Melbeta works to add playground

MELBETA, Neb. — Children in this Panhandle town haven’t had much to play on since the elementary school closed nearly 20 years ago.

But the town of 132 people will soon have a park, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the community.

An open house and ribbon-cutting for the $6,500 project will be Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

Melbeta Park Planning Committee Chairwoman Laura Leggott said it will be a day of live music, food, games, karaoke, prizes, raffles and more.

“The whole afternoon will be a lot of fun,” Leggott said, “and besides serving as a way to thank our sponsors and recognize all those that made the park possible, we want everyone to come view the park and see what all we have accomplished in less than a year.”

The committee also hopes to raise additional funds to assist with park maintenance for at least the next five years.

The park project has been 100 percent community funded and built and was put together by the community with the help of the Oregon Trail Community Foundation through a special project fund.

The village donated the land and will take over the maintenance once the project is completed, and Village Board members have also donated a lot of labor.

The committee was helped by the Community Development Assistance Act, a state income tax credit awarded to privately funded businesses that donated to the project. Several local businesses have contributed to the project, the largest include Platte Valley Bank, Valley Bank and Kosman Inc.

Smith Steel Structures of Melbeta donated the picnic pavilion, and Home Depot donated not only supplies and lumber but labor as well.

The park includes a playground, basketball court, picnic pavilion and wide-open spaces for baseball, Frisbee, flying kites and just running and playing.

There also is a historical marker that represents Melbeta’s role with the Oregon Trail.