A new linear park in Beaver Crossing is set to bring fresh life – and new trails – to the banks of the Big Blue River. It will not only provide river access but enhance the lives of those in the village.
The park will sit on a three-acre strip of land on the southeast side of town and consist of a walking trail, a spot to fish, trees, benches and signs. Village trustee Brandon Mares started a non-profit, Build Beaver, that is taking on the project.
Mares said he has been thinking about the project for years. One day, he was cruising around on his tractor and thought about how nice it would be if there were a path that goes down by the river so people can sit or fish.
He grew up fishing with his dad and wants people to be able to relax and enjoy the beautiful river that Beaver Crossing offers while sharing special family bonding moments in nature.
“The west fork of the Big Blue River runs literally in Beaver Crossing’s backyard, and I always see people fishing off the bridges because we live half a mile down the road from the proposed location,” he said. “I just thought it was such a shame that nobody could just walk down there and fish it, or just walk the river or just go enjoy the channel and enjoy nature at your leisure with this thing that has hundreds of years of historical reference.”
Mares said there are pictures of the area from 75 to 100 years ago when people could walk down to the river.
“I’ve talked to some people, who have since passed, where their folks and grandparents remember the Indians migrating through here along following the river,” he said.
The spot is also significant because it is where a dam and gristmill used to stand.
“Beaver Crossing was originally located four miles north and west of here, and when they built the gristmill they essentially dismantled the town and rebuilt it to be closer to the gristmill,” he said. “That all happened because of where this dam is located, and the original pylons and concrete structures are still in the banks but the dam is long gone.”
Mares said Beaver Crossing has many great attractions – such as its baseball diamonds, park, pool and hardware store – and this project will be a great addition to its offerings and perfect for people who do not live on acreages and do not have easy access to fishing spots. Right now, the only way to fish in the Big Blue River is to drop a line from the bridge on Pioneers Road, which is a safety issue because vehicles travel across the bridge.
Build Beaver operates under the non-profit Seward County Bridges, which helps guide 17 local non-profit organizations in their operations and fundraising.
Seward County Bridges executive director Laurie Sherman said Seward County Bridges is happy to work with Build Beaver because it believes the project will add to and improve the community.
“It is to get people outside, get families together to use the park and promote health with walking the trail if they get that going,” she said. “There’s a lot of things about that project that sounded like they would improve lives, and Bridges’ motto is to improve the lives of those they live and work within Seward County.”
The Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District’s Parks Program, Nebraska Forest Service, the Seward County Legacy Fund and the Idhe Foundation are all donating to the cause.
UBB NRD projects department manager Jack Wergin said Mares did a lot of work on the project before presenting it to the UBB NRD's Board of Directors. The board members appreciated the investments that he, and the town of Beaver Crossing, have already made into the project, which made them all the more willing to give $10,000.
“I like to see the enthusiasm of the locals, and our board is very supportive of these projects when they can see the effort that these villages and towns are putting in,” he said.
Build Beaver participated in Seward County Gives and plans to host fundraising events in tandem with local organizations such as the fire department and Potter Repair this summer. Mares also plans to host an event at the location in July to show the community what is to come.
The timeline is tentative, but Mares said Build Beaver is currently getting all the permitting done and is working with JEO Engineering. The village board has already approved the project.
Mares said he hopes this is the beginning of a much larger project, and he could see the area having a trail down the whole river so people could kayak or fish down it in the future. He would also like to have signs there depicting the area’s history.
“If people like it and they use it, I think it’ll grow on its own,” he said. “I think they’ll be like, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be cool if we could do this down there?,’ and I’d be like, ‘Yeah, that’s a fantastic idea. Let’s try it.’”
Mares said the project is for the village, by the village, and he enjoys working alongside the Beaver Crossing and its various community organizations and individuals to make it happen.
“Everybody's been super positive about it, and they just love the idea,” he said. “I think they all know Beaver Crossing’s got a lot of history down here, and it's got a good volunteer-based community. So, why wouldn't we want this?”
To donate or get involved in the project, contact Seward County Bridges or mail a check to 616 Bradford St., Seward, NE 68434.
