Now
Fair
18°
High
32°
Low
24°
Full Forecast

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > News > Local
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Mayor unveils 'water playground' for Trago Park

Comments 39 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

By The Lincoln Journal Star

Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 - 11:54:10 pm CDT

A new unique water playground will be proposed as part of a new master plan for Trago Park near 22nd and U streets.

Beginning in June, construction of the new Antelope Creek flood channel will be extended into the park south of Vine Street. The expanded park will include that channel and a new trail parallel to it along with a water playground and additional park improvements.

“The Antelope Valley Project gives us a great opportunity to improve this historic park in central Lincoln,” Mayor Coleen Seng said in a news release.

Story Photo
A water playground at Trago Park would be activated by a sensor and open to the community free of charge. (Courtesy)
Open house

What: Community can review plans for Trago Park

When: 5-7:30 p.m. May 8

Where: Shelter at Trago Park, near 22nd and U streets

The proposed master plan will be available on the city Web site beginning today (MONDAY) at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: parks).

She thanked Councilwoman Annette McRoy and a steering committee that developed the plans.

City Parks and Recreation Director Lynn Johnson said the plans include a new concept for water recreation in Lincoln. An interactive sprayground water feature will be developed in conjunction with a relocated playground east of the park shelter.

The sprayground features will be activated by a sensor and open to the community free of charge.

Other improvements include renovation of the basketball courts, a new play field, areas for public art and information on the history of the Malone neighborhood, expanded parking and additional landscaping.

The first phase of the playground relocation is scheduled to begin this summer, and the sprayground and playground are expected to be completed by summer 2008.

The estimated cost of the project is $625,000, with $500,000 coming from the parks capital improvement fund. The remaining $125,000 would be raised through private contributions.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Local > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
omnione wrote on April 30, 2007 2:14 am:
" This is an interesting concept and I want to see the designs for this project. The water feature is definitely "thinking outside the box", but I hope that the execution of the sensors is safe without much maintainable. "

 Southside Mom wrote on April 30, 2007 5:55 am:
" Good Job. Kudos to our Mayor, councilwoman McRoy and Lincoln Parks and Rec. I hope people will open up their checkbooks for this project. "

 Jeff wrote on April 30, 2007 6:18 am:
" awesome idea, and great location. we don't need the suburbs getting yet another taxpayer funded park; this will serve those who don't normally benefit from projects like this. "

 Water wrote on April 30, 2007 8:35 am:
" Wasn't there talk about closing some of the public pools due to not enough business and profit to support the water useage? Why open this then? Its a ok idea but who is paying for the staff to ensure safety? Who's paying the water bill? "

 FYI wrote on April 30, 2007 9:09 am:
" The water is treated and recycled. Maintenance is low and needs little staffing to maintain (unlike a pool facility). This information and more should be available on the Antelope Valley Website - accessed via City webpage - www.lincoln.ne.gov "

 Mike Honcho wrote on April 30, 2007 9:15 am:
" This sounds like a waste of resources. "

 Tom wrote on April 30, 2007 9:33 am:
" Oh ya. Always a waste to give the kids something to do other than stay indoors and play xbox. I just hate to see the city waste money on the kids in North Lincoln. Maybe it would be okay if it was on the South side? "

 Neighbor wrote on April 30, 2007 9:38 am:
" There are water features similiar to this in Aspen, Denver, etc., that are very popular, and help bring people to the area. Good idea! "

 Dave K wrote on April 30, 2007 9:53 am:
" It is a waste of resources. It is not the government's job to entertain kids. "

 brian wrote on April 30, 2007 10:00 am:
" How about a concrete skatepark? "

 skeptic wrote on April 30, 2007 10:45 am:
" How long befor this is covered with graffiti and damaged by the hooligans. I too like the idea, but it will no doubt be hammered with vandalism with noone watching things and not fenced in. What is the annual cost to lincoln for dmage and clean up as a result of vandalism? Anyone at Parks dept know?? The parks seem to be easy targets. What if we pay a private security guy to guard the parks with some of that money"parks capital improvement fund". "

 q street resident wrote on April 30, 2007 10:45 am:
" I've lived in this neighborhood for six years and i think this is the best thing ever for our neighborhood children. This shows them that even though they don't live in a ritzy neighborhood, they are still cared about.Thank You Lincoln. "

 angelita wrote on April 30, 2007 11:23 am:
" I think that the new and upcoming water park is going to be a kick due to all of the kids that live in that area...so great location. "

 Zoomie wrote on April 30, 2007 11:25 am:
" Can we get one on the Southside now. "

 Mike wrote on April 30, 2007 11:49 am:
" This is a great plan. Kearney Parks and Rec built one a few years back and has had very positive response to it. It is an extremely cheap alternative to a pool. "

 Chef wrote on April 30, 2007 11:58 am:
" Great idea for Lincoln. Thank you Mayor Seng and Councilwoman McRoy! Hope to see more of these show up throughout the city. "

 Spending Spree wrote on April 30, 2007 1:05 pm:
" Is it just me, or does it seem like the mayor is currently on a spending spree for her last week in office? I agree, this is a great concept, however I thought the city had no money. Where is the funding coming from? Perhaps she should just go out quietly instead of continuing to keep this mess of a city in shambles. Now it's someone else's job to come in and fix everything. "

 permanent ice wrote on April 30, 2007 1:12 pm:
" brian wrote on April 30, 2007 10:00 AM: "How about a concrete skatepark?" Add an inline hockey rink to that too! "

 as wrote on April 30, 2007 1:16 pm:
" Love the idea & it's about time North Lincoln got something in comparison to what South Lincoln gets. Have to question the timing of the announcement though. I mean election day IS tomorrow & McRoy has never been known for getting a lot for her district. This year she's facing a tougher candidate too. Timing..... "

 jeez wrote on April 30, 2007 1:31 pm:
" This idea is wonderful! I am saddened that people think so negatively about it- I wonder if it would get the same static if it were in a different neigborhood. "

 FYI wrote on April 30, 2007 1:35 pm:
" The $$ is coming from $$ already allocated and some of the $$ is coming from fundraising efforts. If it isn't the City's job to "entertain" the kids, then why to we have City Recreation sports, Pools and other events. This is just one water feature aspect of Trago Park (which is apart of Antelope Valley projects). If this idea takes off, then there will most likely be others popping up all over town. Give the idea time to work. The Mayor isn't the one spending the $$ in her last few weeks of office. Take the time and find out ALL the information before commenting on things you know little about. There is going to be an Open House on Trago Park...GO and ASK Questions. That is the best way to get your accurate information, instead of wasting energy beefing about things that (Chances are...) you're not qualified to talk about. Seriously - take the time to get a clue. "

 Waste wrote on April 30, 2007 1:49 pm:
" of money to put this in that neighborhood, where all the thugs there will have it trashed in quick order. So is this free campain advertisement for McRoy, who's done nothing but advocate spending our tax money? "

 Tom wrote on April 30, 2007 1:59 pm:
" It is the governments’ job to provide parks and recreation for the citizens. That is one of the things our high taxes go to. If you don’t like it don’t go, but I am okay with my taxes going to it. "

 Skeptic2 wrote on April 30, 2007 2:56 pm:
" When they tore down and rebuilt the F Street Rec Center, I thought it was nicest thing Parks & Rec could do for those children. I grew up at the old Rec Center and thought that was great so the new one was awesome!! What's sad is that within a month of it being open, the kids were trashing the place. They have no respect for the building or the people trying to run it. I hope (although I don't hold out much hope) this will be different as children do deserve a great place to hang out. It's just sad that some of those children are so disrespectful! "

 Jeff wrote on April 30, 2007 2:57 pm:
" As a tay paying resident of "that" neighboorhood I resent the reference to it as "that" neighboorhood. Those making that comment no doubt live in South Lincoln, where nothing bad ever happens. I think it is a great idea. Finally our Mayor does a good thing, even if it is her last week in office. "

 gaffitti coming wrote on April 30, 2007 5:17 pm:
" Sorry to say it like this...but I bet it'll be true. This neighborhood idea may be good but I agree with one of the other posters that question safety and also the Graffitti that you know will be coming. Mayor Seng ought to have the reins pulled back at the end of her term and not be allowed to spend like this. Where is the city council on this issue. Half a million dollars..Wow. Let people tun on their sprinklers and pay for the wasted water rather than spread it out to all those who will never have any benefit from it... "

 Laurie wrote on April 30, 2007 5:50 pm:
" It sounds really utopian and I wish I could believe in its success but I can't believe a non-supervised waterpark could exist anywhere in this city without being completely trashed in six months. It also sounds kinda dangerous. If a person can sue the city because they stepped in a hole at a city park, imagine the litigation that will come out of a park full of slippery concrete. I'm so sorry to feel so certain, and heaven knows I really want to believe in the goodness of community and all that stuff, but this is a disaster waiting to happen. "

 Bill wrote on April 30, 2007 5:59 pm:
" 1. This is not a 'historic' park. It has been around for maybe 20 years the all the housing was torn down, the streets were closed, and the Beadle Center and the Malone Center were built in their current locations. 2. Is this a weak attempt on the part of Parks & Rec to throw something to the neighborhood before they close Kuklin Pool as they've been suggesting for the last 10 years. "

 Dan wrote on April 30, 2007 6:18 pm:
" Quit trying to pick out everything negative about this. Sure, it will probably get graffiti, but we live in a CITY, it happens... and didn't they just pass a law requiring property owners(in this case the city) to remove graffiti before 30 days?? "

 Pathetic wrote on April 30, 2007 6:19 pm:
" It shouldn't shock me or amaze me that there are so many negative comments about this waterpark simply because of the location of the park. Does any one have any compassion for humanity left in them? You know, poor people as well as the rich people deserve to have nice atttractions in their neighborhood. I imagine all of these "people" making these comments probably have some prejudice running through their vains as they complain about the unfairness of it. So greedy, you probably have the money to take your children to the expensive places for your children to swim when people on the "poorer" side of town do not. Do not judge the children because they are in a poverty situation. It all goes back to education folks. Some people were fortunate to have been spoon fed the importance of education, thus being successful like they are, whereas other people are merely surviving the only way they know how to. Which leads to why the less fortunate are forced to live in the lower income homes, and unfortunately as much history that is on the North side, it has become the centerpoint of the lower income homes. Kudos to those who voted on this and to the children in this neighborhood, enjoy yourselves babies, you deserve a break for once, eh? For the envious ones, go visit the park yourselves and learn how to integrate with people that are on a different "class" than you are, you may find that WE are all the same with like goals in mind, to live a happy life with our children. "

 aarhode wrote on April 30, 2007 7:35 pm:
" How can we afford a new park if we have a -$9 million budget???? "

 Lola wrote on April 30, 2007 7:43 pm:
" People who haven't been to this area for several years ought to c'mon down and see what's going on in the area between O and Vine, from 27th Street west. There's been new private (single-family and other) home construction, renovation and investment, in addition to the taxpayer-financed street improvements. The city needs to attend to ALL parts of the city and, like it or not, it's a value to the entire city to improve the downtown/UNL environs. As for grafitti and vandalism, it happens all over town and the solution is for PARENTS to teach their childrent to respect other people's property before the POLICE have to. "

 Contararily wrote on April 30, 2007 9:56 pm:
" This is not the idea of Seng and McCroy but rather the ideas of Seacrest who wants to revamp the Malone Center Bldg. and put up affordable housing in that area. I attended the meeting. So don't give kudos where they don't belong. "

 honda customer wrote on April 30, 2007 10:35 pm:
" great so does that mean the city has paid off all they owe millions to? i bet not! let get jim williamson paid off first, he is trying to run a first class place and all the city is doing its holding him back for personal reasons!! "

 live there wrote on May 1, 2007 11:45 am:
" I live in this area. Please stop trying to portray is as downtrodden and dumb. I am not poor and even my less affluent neighbors are quite smart. We probably have more computers per household than the suburbs. However, I most definitely would have done something better with this site. "

 Cara wrote on May 1, 2007 12:49 pm:
" I will definately take my children to this as I have seen these in Texas cities and also Japan cities, they are wonderful and are fun for everyone. Lincoln will finally start keeping with the times. "

 rb wrote on May 1, 2007 1:08 pm:
" Who is going to pay for the lifegaurd to give safety to all the kids in this water park? Who is going to pay for the lawsuit some parents bring against the city when their kid drowns? Same answer - everyone within the city limits. Bad idea mayor, bad idea. "

 karwied wrote on May 1, 2007 2:27 pm:
" rb: no one will drown and there is no lifeguard...there is no pool with any water depth. San Antonio has a great one at Sea World and my little grandchildren love it. They play under sprinklers, little geysers spray up and lots of other inovative ideas. It is great...I am going to suggest that my city try this concept... "

 Jaydub wrote on May 1, 2007 4:53 pm:
" All you folks who are honestly opposed to doing something positive for the children of Lincoln should be ashamed of yourselves. I am sure that those involved in this planning process are plenty qualified to make decisions regarding risk management and budget capabilities. If they aren't qualified, I can guarantee you they typically have someone working for them who is. Furthermore, if enough people were outraged by such a well-conceived venture, I am sure it would be shot down fairly quickly. Quit wasting your lives being critics and go out there and do something positive in concert with your own values. "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Ghandi "

Ads by Yahoo!