Buckley Park Campground
~ Stromsburg, Nebraska ~

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Line Graphic Highway 81's Favorite Campground Line Graphic
One of the most popular camping sites on Nebraska's Highway 81 is Buckley Park Campground located in Stromsburg, Nebraska.


Campers enjoy a relaxing evening visit

Electrical hook-ups provide camping comforts
Buckley Park is nestled between the confluence of the historic Big Blue River and Prairie Creek. The campground is located on the north side of the park, along Prairie Creek. Large trees provide shade for campers.

There are twelve electrical pedestals which include eight 50-amp outlets, twelve 30-amp outlets, and fourteen 20-amp outlets. There are also five water hydrants and a sewer dump station.

There is a two-night limit for the free camping. Longer stays are allowed with permission from the City Office. Donations are accepted to help defray expenses.


Covered pavilion provides protected dining

Tent camping area
A large covered pavilion is available in the campground with picnic tables, electrical outlets and lights. West of the pavilion is a primitive tent camping area at creek bank level. This expands the camping accommodations considerably.


Amphitheater
Nestled between the graceful curves of Prairie Creek you will find a natural setting amphitheater under the shade of 90-year-old green ash trees. There is a rustic log podium and bench seating for approximately 50. A ground level fire-ring is provided for evening comfort and atmosphere. This Eagle Scout project, built by Robert Oberg in 1996, is used for many Boy Scout ceremonies and civic events. Campers have used the amphitheater for their own church services.

Buckley Park is a large city park where facilities include three picnic pavilions, baseball and football fields, softball and soccer fields, a basketball court, sand volleyball court, heated swimming pool, and two tennis courts, all of which are lighted. A nine-pit horseshoe pitching complex was added in 1999. There are also several playgrounds with swings, slides, balance beams, climbers, rockers, and other equipment.

The Two Parks Trail provides a well-lit walkway from Buckley Park to the downtown City Square Park. Campers find it very enjoyable to walk from their camping site to the businesses located around the square providing restaurants, a grocery store, pharmacy, lounge, hardware store and auto parts store. The newly built City Library is also within walking distance of the trail.

The campground is busy year round and hosts visitors from many states and Canada. Each year sees repeat visitors as "snowbirds" travel south each fall and back north each spring.

Buckley Park is recognized today as an outstanding park in this central part of Nebraska.


One of several playgrounds

New horseshoe complex

Heated swimming pool provides summer fun

Plenty of room for a quiet walk
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History of Buckley Park
Buckley Park - 1917
In the early 1900's the residents of Stromsburg had a dream. They wanted a place to develop for recreation in addition to the City Square Park. As any community project takes time, this venture took about two years to complete. In 1912 the City Council accepted a deed for an 11-acre plot of ground on Prairie Creek from J.B. Buckley to be used as a public park. Thus Buckley Park became a part of the City of Stromsburg.

In 1927, interest began for more grounds so that tennis courts might be built and other athletics staged in the park. Through the leadership of the American Legion, Mrs. Buckley, the widow of John B. Buckley, donated another tract of 15 acres joining Buckley Park on the south.

Many hours of work and planning were required to develop Buckley Park and that determination continues today. Through the years a frame pavilion was built on the north side along with a campground. A swimming pool was built in 1955 and gas lines extended in 1996 for a pool heater. In 1968, tennis courts were constructed as a memorial to H. Ray Anderson by his wife, Winnie. The courts were refurbished in 1995 by Vayden Anderson in memory of his parents, Ray and Winnie. A gift from the Olga Gustafson estate in 1980 resulted in the construction of a basketball court to the south of the tennis courts. Funds were also used for fencing at the tennis and basketball courts.

In 1972 and 1973, considerable improvements were built at the park including a brick pavilion with fireplace and rest rooms, water and sewer lines and asphalt drives. Many charcoal grills for picnickers were also installed. These improvements were made possible in part with a grant from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

A gift in 1986 from Lanny McCormick in memory of his parents, Clair and Helen, was used to install a concrete bridge across Prairie Creek to replace a rotted wooden bridge.

The baseball/football field has been used extensively through the years by youth baseball and softball, school football, men's semi-pro baseball and men's slow-pitch softball. In 1984, a matching grant was received from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for underground sprinklers for the outfield. The field was leveled, sprinklers installed and volunteers, coaches and players laid sod. Several years later, sprinklers were added to the infield and sod was also laid. In February of 1990, the field was named the Don E. Nordberg Field in honor of the long time mayor and Nebraska Baseball Hall of Famer. The lighting for the field was upgraded in 1992. Today the Don E. Nordberg Memorial Field boasts of a grass infield and perfectly manicured turf.

Because of the increasing numbers of youth playing baseball and softball, it was determined in 1988 that an additional field was needed. Ray and Lois Nyffeler donated an acre of land on the southwest edge of Buckley Park to provide enough area for the construction of a softball field. Since that time dugouts, lights, and a scoreboard have been added.

Sand volleyball became popular in the late 1980's and a court was built south of the basketball court. In 1989, a fund drive was held and a new computerized scoreboard was purchased for the baseball/football field and named the Max Quick Memorial Scoreboard.

In 1990 and 1993, Buckley Park received very generous gifts from the Lucy and Carl Holm Estate and the Merwin Carlson Estate. In 1996, a 65-foot-wide picnic shelter was built in memory of Lucy and Carl Holm. This Swedish designed building is a beautiful addition to the park and has been the site of numerous weddings and other special events. Decorative lighting was also installed along the Two Parks Trail. The Holm and Carlson funds have greatly benefited Buckley Park and will continue to do so in the future.

What has been a showcase for years will become even more so in the years to come.

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