Outdoor Learning Area

IMPLEMENTATION  The Grand Island Groundwater Guardian Team realized the potential of educating thousands of people about groundwater and its uses when we received 1st place through a national online contest held by Rain Bird: The Intelligent Use of Water Awards! That first place prize was $10,000 to implement features such as a rain garden, bioswale, gazebo, cedar tunnel, prairie maze, and trees. The project received 30,597 votes; about 1,000 more than any other project in the country.

AWARD  The Grand Island Groundwater Guardian Team received a Community Beautification Award from the Hall County Regional Planning Commission in October 2016.  The award recognizes the Outdoor Learning Area as a place to beautify and improve the community.

GROUNDBREAKING  A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday, August 31, 2012. Jack Vetter, Vetter Health Systems, was a guest at the groundbreaking ceremony. Vetter matched the online contest that the Guardians won from Rain Bird: The Intelligent Use of Water Awards.

FUNDING  After receiving the initial $10,000 from the online voting, the Guardians also acquired $47,500 in other grants from Vetter Health Services, Water For The West, Waterwise (NE Environmental Trust), Fonner Park, City of Grand Island and Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.  The project would not have been possible without the support of Fonner Park, the Nebraska State Fair. The Grand Island Youth Leadership and Roots & Shoots have donated plants and their time to enhance the site.

GWG TEAM  The Grand Island Groundwater Guardian Team is a local volunteer group whose purpose is to educate the public about the importance of groundwater.  Members:  Roger Andrews, retired-Bureau of Reclamation; Larry Cast, retired-Bureau of Reclamation; Duane Woodward, retired hydrologist-Central Platte NRD; Julie Frandsen,  Grand Island Utilities Dept; Elizabeth Killinger, UNL Extension Educator; Mike Kube, retired-Bureau of Reclamation; Ken Gnadt, former Mayor of City of Grand Island; Marcia Lee, Central Platte Natural Resources District; Gary Mader, retired-Grand Island Utilities Department;  Denise McGovern-Gallagher, Grand Island Area Clean Community System; Milt Moravek, Retired-Central Platte Natural Resources District; Patsy Steenson- Retired Elementary Educator.   OLA Project Director: Gary Mader

For information on activities available at the Outdoor Learning Area, or information on getting involved in the Groundwater Guardian project contact:  Marcia Lee or Elizabeth Killinger

Rain Garden: The rain garden is a planted depression that allows rainwater runoff to be absorbed from impervious urban areas like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and compacted lawn areas. The public would be educated on how this reduces rain runoff by allowing stormwater to soak into the ground, as opposed to flowing into storm drains and surface waters which causes erosion, water pollution, flooding, and diminished groundwater. It will be designed for Nebraska-specific soils and climate. Native plants from all areas of Nebraska have been used because they don’t require fertilizer and are more tolerant of the local climate, soil, and water conditions. They also attract local wildlife such as native birds and butterflies. The plants include a selection of wetland edge vegetation, such as wildflowers, sedges, rushes, ferns, shrubs and small trees— will take up excess water flowing into the rain garden. Water filters through soil layers before entering the groundwater system. The site shows how the root systems enhance infiltration, maintain or even augment soil permeability, provide moisture redistribution, and sustain diverse microbial populations involved in biofiltration. Also, through the process of transpiration, rain garden plants return water vapor to the atmosphere.

Bioswale: This landscape element is designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water. The location is near a swaled drainage area (a sidewalk) and includes gently sloped sides filled with vegetation, compost, and riprap. The water’s flow path, along with the wide and shallow ditch, is designed to maximize the time water spends in the swale, which aids the trapping of pollutants and silt.

Gazebo: The gazebo provides seating for a classroom setting and resting area.  The structure includes gutters and a rain barrel to educate about gutters, rain barrels, and grass pavers.

Kids Tunnel: This natural play feature was installed in July 2013 and uses flowering vines to cover the structure, creating a space for children to play and learn about plants, vines, and shade.

Bee Hotel:  The bee hotel provides essential nesting homes for solitary bees. These bees don't swarm or have a hive like the more well-known honeybees and wasps. Solitary bees are excellent pollinators. They pollinate our crops and ensure that plant communities are healthy and productive.

Prairie Restoration: This area was planted by the Prairie Plains Resources Institute. The prairie path combines the natural play feature with a need to cover a low area on the site with something other than turf. The prairie grass and forb roots help add structure to the soil and improve water infiltration over time. Simply mowing a path through the area allows the public to experience running through tall prairie grasses. The restoration process will take years to complete.

4-H Building: During the State Fair, the 4-H building has several events. The remainder of the year, the building is utilized as a sports field house with baseball & softball cages, basketball courts, volleyball courts, soccer fields, and kids play area.

Raising Nebraska Building: This 50,000 square-foot building is just west of the outdoor learning area. It is two stories high with exhibition space on the ground floor and the Nebraska State Fair administrative offices on the second floor. It also features a museum area with information and artifacts from the past 144 years of the fair. The Department of Agriculture and the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission share the lower floor with meeting space available on the top floor. The Dept. of Agriculture’s interactive, technology-based displays promote agriculture in Nebraska and is available for use year-round. The display has been described as a Smithsonian-type display with simulators and videos.

Family Fun Center: During the State Fair, the Family Fun Activity Center is located under a large tent in the Family Fun Activity Center and provides all-day games, sanctioned games & competitions, a daily food eating contest, Make-and-Take activities, and much more for children of all ages. Butterfly adventures, which is an educational environment where people can interact with butterflies of many different species will be held daily in the Family Fun Zone, as well as The Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean Aerial High Wire Thrill Show, which is a daily grounds entertainment act with multiple showings a day.