Kearney accepts deed for Yanny Heritage Park; council adopts resolution to take ownership

The Kearney City Council on Oct. 28 voted to accept a donation of land and improvements from the Yanny Heritage Park Foundation, adopting Resolution 2020And33 to accept Lots 2 and 3 and associated park improvements.

Tammy Jackson, president of the Yanny Heritage Park Foundation, opened the foundation's presentation and framed the deed transfer as the culmination of a 27-year effort to create a public park. Tom Tai, a founding member and emeritus of the foundation, told the council that Lot 1 and its initial improvements were transferred to the city in 2008 and valued at about $7,000,000, and that the current transfer of Lots 2 and 3 and their improvements totals roughly $13,000,000. "All total, it's about $20,500,000 in park improvements," Tai said.

Judy Sickler, president and CEO of the Kearney Area Community Foundation, said the foundation has built a $3,000,000 endowment to help maintain the park and has hired a development director to grow that fund so ongoing maintenance will not fall solely to taxpayers. "We didn't want to give you a park without backing it up with an endowment," Sickler said.

City Attorney Michael Tai told the council that the deed was prepared and that council action was required to accept the transfer. A council member moved to close the public hearing and adopt Resolution 2020And33; the motion was seconded, roll call was taken and the resolution was approved as recorded in the meeting minutes.

After the vote, council members presented a ceremonial key to the city to Tom Tai in recognition of his years of volunteer leadership with the park.

Provenance: council announcement of public hearing and presentation (transcript SEG 115–SEG 127), Tom Tai remarks and numerical valuations (SEG 222–SEG 235), Judy Sickler endowment remarks (SEG 360–SEG 372), motion and roll call adopting Resolution 2020And33 (SEG 555–SEG 573).