Kearney council accepts donation of Yanni Heritage Park land; foundation pledges $3 million endowment

Kearney City Council voted unanimously to accept the donation of Lots 2 and 3 of Yanni Heritage Park from the Yanni Heritage Park Foundation during a public hearing on Oct. 28, 2025, resolving to accept the deed and related improvements into city ownership.

Tammy Jackson, Yanni Heritage Park Foundation board president, opened the foundation’s presentation by calling the transfer “a milestone moment in Kearney's story,” and thanked the foundation’s volunteers, city staff and private donors for the park’s development.

Tom Tai, a founding member and board emeritus, told the council the transfer covers Lots 2 and 3 — the balance of the park’s real estate — and the improvements that accompany that land. “As you'll see shortly,” Tai said, “that's gonna be a little over $13,000,000 so all total, it's…