[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6523676,"mediaKeyId","5028802-225bf0cc600799f7f8b02bcc5c87c8bc","parentId",5028802,"title","Grand Island outlines $16M plan to renovate Island Oasis pool, add mini golf and splash pad","audioSeconds",1081,"startMs",418000,"endMs",1499000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5028802-225bf0cc600799f7f8b02bcc5c87c8bc&start=418&end=1499","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5028802-225bf0cc600799f7f8b02bcc5c87c8bc/thumbnail_418000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6523676/Grand-Island/Hall-County/Nebraska/Grand-Island-outlines-16M-plan-to-renovate-Island-Oasis-pool-add-mini-golf-and-splash-pad","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523676-fbd87510c4c31b3bc79d5df70480f251/orig.mp4?Expires=1771096490&Signature=M73~Y5zv0BcsC1KaM7c6IMVXtfg12izqQ6HlDhyG7L7neBJhlWGAgW~HsalpaOqbC1QxUhq1Iedm8aKiP4ZTT~7QK6~FvuNUSDQHGoqUiQbWVpu2Mm9rhwrhPfhVoDf3sJDxnLhohXMe30ZKvTzFyI9vt7lNQTDl8rGJJpvf4g8JTwelytfhu-jgYJFvATTr1P8TFhdmo-Z2YVRfgKaINWh2SYh4d6KR-enohVVhC1Wsu0NAyeixoGOajjRHSPqGN54UxjgL-YJR3~Kp0aTjFk56reaIWwXbIIvtoJQLA7HGSZDgXk3MtD6yB0RAT5H39EF0nAN~~psPZCf7HurGzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Grand Island, NE","date","2025-06-18T13:10:15.587Z","article","City staff and consultants on June 17 presented design details and an estimated budget for a major renovation of Island Oasis, Grand Island’s municipal water park, and answered council questions about safety, schedule and how the project could be paid for.

The presentation described a plan to separate the water park’s single large pool into two bodies of water — a dedicated wave pool and a leisure pool with beach entry and play structures — repair the lazy river and renovate the bathhouse, plus add an 18‑hole mini golf course, a splash pad and a dry recreation/play area. The consultant said the work would also address equipment, pump and filtration systems dating to the original 1993 construction.

City parks consultant Kyle McCawley of Water’s Edge Aquatic Design Group told the council the intent is to create a longer, more flexible wave pool and a distinct leisure pool with shallow water play features, family slides and shade over shallow areas. “The wave pool will allow more different wave patterns to be generated,” McCawley said, adding the equipment and some structure date to the park’s original construction in 1993 and will be replaced.

Why it matters: Island Oasis is a high‑use city amenity. The design aims to improve safety and operating flexibility, and to add year‑round revenue opportunities by creating attractions — mini golf and a splash pad — that can open or remain available outside the main swim season.

Most important details
- Estimated project cost: consultants presented two nearby totals during the meeting — roughly $15.9 million in one presentation slide and about $17 million on the city finance worksheets. City staff described these as working estimates and said the numbers would be refined in design and bidding.
- Budget breakdown cited in the presentation (planning estimates): about $11.3 million for aquatics and “back‑of‑house” items (new wave pool, new leisure pool, lazy river repairs, pumps and filters); roughly $2.9 million for the mini golf, splash pad and dry play area; additional cost for bathhouse expansions and parking repairs were included in the overall estimate.
- Mini golf: consultants said a standalone estimate for the 18‑hole concrete mini golf installation and associated site work is about $500,000, and that the design will use formed concrete play features rather than temporary modular pieces.
- Operations and seasonal strategy: consultants and staff said the splash pad and mini golf are intended to be operable separately from Island Oasis so they can open earlier and stay open later in the year; McCawley said, “We keep the splash pads open till October now.”
- Safety and design: council member Nickerson asked about water depth under high‑activity play features; McCawley said the play area for the interactive obstacle elements would be designed for approximately 3½ to 4 feet of water.
- Schedule: the consultant said the project was in the construction‑document phase, would go through a QA/QC review and permitting (including Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services), and could go out for bid after those steps. The team’s goal is to have construction start in September and to open for the next swim season, subject to permitting and bids.
- Contracting and penalties: McCawley said liquidated damages are typically included in the bidding documents and are commonly set in the $500–$1,000‑per‑day range if a late opening causes lost revenue; staff said the final liquidated‑damages amount would be set in the contract.

Discussion and council questions
Council members pressed on maintenance and operating costs, revenue potential and how public input shaped amenity choices. McCawley said the 2023 Island Oasis master plan guided amenity selection and that other team consultants (landscape architects and a mini golf specialist) had been engaged to design higher‑quality, permanent mini golf features. When asked whether the mini golf and splash pad would be paid or free, McCawley said the intent is for the splash pad to be free and mini golf to be a paid attraction.

What remains unresolved
Staff emphasized the cost estimates are preliminary and that the city will return with refined budgets and a recommendation for awarding construction contracts after the bidding process. Finance staff subsequently discussed possible financing options (see related article on the council’s financing discussion). No formal council action or contract award occurred at the June 17 meeting.

Ending
City staff and the consultant asked council to consider timing and funding options so design and permitting can continue; the council requested additional operating‑cost and revenue projections before committing to bonding or other funding actions. If council chooses to fast‑track construction, staff said they would return with contract recommendations following a competitive bid process and permitting approvals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 17, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City staff and consultants presented a $16 million‑scale renovation plan for Island Oasis on June 17 that would split the current single pool into a separate wave pool and leisure pool, repair the lazy river and add a splash pad, expanded bathhouse space and an 18‑hole mini golf course.","taxTitle","Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska","taxId",4603,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6523667,"Nebraska Game and Parks expresses strong interest in Camp Augustine; city links trail proposal to park development",807,4295000,5102000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5028802-225bf0cc600799f7f8b02bcc5c87c8bc&start=4295&end=5102","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5028802-225bf0cc600799f7f8b02bcc5c87c8bc/thumbnail_4295000.jpg","/articles/6523667/Grand-Island/Hall-County/Nebraska/Nebraska-Game-and-Parks-expresses-strong-interest-in-Camp-Augustine-city-links-trail-proposal-to-park-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523667-5376f530bdb54ea0d85c2175e2c21deb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771096490&Signature=hTjbcYI4X3LDiBDfz7AFXPQFKve0jdWUXgvxhYdtNtoES3XUrf5Tt-SAK7dN2cNn26lF-KSjv11YlEdwzmKlbK85Fh1Dgsiz5MnqLLgptOvWTwK0eqXuqBjt3zHPVyMpp3mvtUYuOyxfzRiJffFr9baJK7vWkn4Ro40PFomVH3qtt-TU3wQgA1zr5KzR9l2if2uO7yzRsCjNwuu5ct~BEUssTXGtCu4SktjoXj1zP760CXs-isAVt1UxX5Hv6Gy1dXubYh27nf3LPCqW6KaXDJKhHMRvZ05KX40vtPMO2yLLO-b1XjngS8kX6ft7aJSTCU67YVRJ~dIMzyi0J-Gdfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Grand Island city staff told the council on June 17 that Nebraska Game and Parks has signaled strong interest in managing Camp Augustine and that the state agency and its foundation have placed the site as a top statewide priority, an update officials said could affect the city’s trail and amenity planning.

City staff said representatives from Nebraska Game and Parks told them the agency hopes to present a management agreement in July, and that the Game and Parks Foundation is treating Camp Augustine as a major fundraising priority. The mayor and staff said the state agency appeared eager to move quickly, and that a long‑term agreement could be drafted with renewable 25‑year terms.

Why it matters: Camp Augustine’s development and an agency‑run management arrangement would create a destination that staff said could increase use of the proposed South Locust Trail, which the city has estimated at approximately $7 million and which includes two river crossings. Staff said Game and Parks could immediately use existing roads and trails on the site for initial access if the full trail terminus is postponed to save cost.

What staff reported
- Management interest: staff said Game and Parks officials were “gleeful” and described the agency as prioritizing Camp Augustine through its foundation fundraising. City staff said they expect a drafted management agreement in July and discussed leasing the property to Game and Parks for a nominal fee and a long‑term renewal structure.
- Trail linkage: staff emphasized the South Locust Trail is part of an amenity package that connects the Riverway Trail to Mormon Island and the Platte River; the $7 million estimate is conservative and includes two river crossings. Staff said building only to a roadway terminus could reduce near‑term city cost while enabling visitors to use existing camp access roads once Game and Parks operates the site.
- Staffing and staging: staff said Game and Parks indicated the foundation and agency plan to support development and that the agency may budget for an on‑site staff position to oversee operations and initial programming as the park is developed.

Council reaction
Some council members said the prospect of a state agency managing Camp Augustine strengthens the case for the trail but urged the city to seek a management agreement and a clear timeline before committing full trail funding. Council members agreed staff should return with the proposed management agreement and asked Game and Parks representatives to attend council meetings when the draft is available.

Ending
City staff said they will pursue the management agreement with Nebraska Game and Parks and asked the agency to present the proposal to the council; staff recommended council reserve detailed funding decisions on the South Locust Trail until the management agreement and fundraising plans are clearer.","City staff said Nebraska Game and Parks has prioritized Camp Augustine and expects to provide a management agreement; the agency’s interest strengthens arguments for the South Locust Trail that would connect to Mormon Island and Camp Augustine.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6523671,"Grand Island staff propose $34.8M bond package to fund parks and other capital; council debates cash vs. debt",2093,1517000,3610000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5028802-225bf0cc600799f7f8b02bcc5c87c8bc&start=1517&end=3610","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5028802-225bf0cc600799f7f8b02bcc5c87c8bc/thumbnail_1517000.jpg","/articles/6523671/Grand-Island/Hall-County/Nebraska/Grand-Island-staff-propose-348M-bond-package-to-fund-parks-and-other-capital-council-debates-cash-vs-debt","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523671-a2ae2184c44e67be896541c1744efef3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771096490&Signature=RdXEf6hANaY2Fx-CaR01bZtlK60aDJ~FoC8W6D7cfZISVrcZM7ZU7fB1IKrogbNS-KzM482ni1auaGP81UUh9h6Rh0vC~ZrSXlerT02RmraZyN2YESdmAhjrRsM6jsl8Wciacbcs~EV2a~~txXZ0npHiiOHbM--PXuo1eD0~3iJWYmNQADAEwgjGVQZlDanZ0uKo1hls7Xc232Lqms0MhAqr8~BjcLejCFcDOxNFU1pbt4~JrJ6wGQLlGDkHQ0--r0F25bMebh1gCH1hfI4022vju1KO6~FqQR8UtotjH7NQ-R4kyCm6-br7pheSZWx5mtvLjbNnDXSKFSntBByCMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance staff on June 17 proposed a draft financing plan that would combine existing reserves, food and beverage tax revenue and a municipal bond issue to pay for a multi‑project parks and capital program, including the Island Oasis renovation.

Assistant City Administrator and Chief Financial Officer Patrick Brown presented a working financing scenario in which a bond par amount of about $34.8 million (net proceeds estimated at $34.5 million) issued over a 20‑year term at an illustrative interest rate of roughly 4.35 percent would generate an estimated annual payment of about $2.5 million. Brown called the numbers estimates and said the city could refine term and size during formal bond‑sale procedures.

Why it matters: The financing plan would spread the cash burden of large projects over time, but it would also add decades of debt service and issuance costs. Council members debated whether to use reserves or issue bonds, and how to allocate ongoing food and beverage tax revenue among competing priorities.

Key points from staff presentation
- Bond concept: Brown said the illustrative bond par amount was $34,800,000 with net proceeds around $34,500,000; the example used a 20‑year term at approximately 4.35% producing an annual payment near $2,500,000 (staff emphasized estimates will change with market conditions and final structuring).
- Funding sources and allocation: the proposal relied on a mix of sources including food and beverage tax revenue (annual receipts presented in the packet at roughly $3.2 million in recent years), Keno funds, capital improvement fund cash (excess reserves), and other identified revenue streams. Brown proposed using food and beverage revenue to cover roughly $750,000 of the proposed annual payment, noting an existing $550,000 commitment for the Veterans Complex would still be in place.
- Policy constraint: Finance staff noted state law and city code limit allowable uses of food and beverage tax proceeds (the meeting referenced “section 20‑365 of the code,” which enumerates eligible categories such as state fair support, recreation and tourism promotion). Brown explained food and beverage proceeds cannot fund many public safety or administrative capital items, which influenced the decision to leverage general capital cash and bonds for non‑park needs.

Council discussion and concerns
Council members voiced a range of views. Some favored using cash where possible and phasing projects, noting issuance costs and long‑term interest expense. Others supported bonding for large or time‑sensitive projects (Island Oasis was repeatedly cited as a candidate for accelerated work) while preserving reserves for other capital needs and uncertainties.

Representative comments:
- Brown summarized the financing math: “So with a term of 20 years and with the current interest rates, that's 4.35% approximately... the annual payment would be 2,500,000.0.”
- Council member Pollock asked whether the city could capture new growth in property tax revenues to help pay debt service; staff said new growth historically produced roughly $200,000 annually and could be considered for allocation with council direction.
- Council member Halsey and others emphasized the city has multiple capital revenue sources (other sales tax ballots and casino/Keno receipts) and urged prudence about drawing down cash reserves.

Operational details and next steps
Staff described the capital improvement fund mechanics: excess general fund cash above the city’s reserve policy would be moved to the capital improvement fund and could be used for debt service or direct capital expenditures. Brown said the administration expects recurring vacancy and operating savings to generate additional annual excess cash that could be reallocated to capital.

Brown recommended the council authorize the city to begin the bond‑shopping process (a 60–120 day competitive financing procedure) if council wishes to issue debt; he said staff will return with refined structures, bids and a formal recommendation. No binding action or bond authorization took place on June 17.

Ending
Council members asked staff to provide more refined operating‑cost projections (particularly for Island Oasis), the final estimated issuance costs, and alternatives that would rely less on long‑term debt. Staff said they would return with additional data and that timing for bond authorization would depend on council direction and market conditions.","City finance staff proposed a roughly $34.8 million bond package to fund a 20‑year capital program that would cover Island Oasis and other parks projects. Staff outlined a draft repayment plan using food and beverage revenues, Keno and capital reserves; council members questioned reliance on reserves and favored a mix of cash and debt.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Grand Island outlines $16M plan to renovate Island Oasis pool, add mini golf and splash pad

Nebraska Game and Parks expresses strong interest in Camp Augustine; city links trail proposal to park development

Grand Island staff propose $34.8M bond package to fund parks and other capital; council debates cash vs. debt