A dozen multi-million-dollar construction projects are underway around North Platte, as the city experiences the biggest construction boom in more than 20 years.

The pace and scope of construction seems dizzying after decades of relatively stagnant growth.
This week, we’re focusing on new developments through the center of the city. Together, they cost nearly $55 million.

Sports therapy

Work continues on a $14.35 million sports therapy and orthopedic rehab building for Great Plains Health near Jeffers and Leota.

Located along Jeffers St. / U.S. Highway 83, the building is one of the most visible construction projects in town, and it is progressing steadily.

Workers finished the roof last fall and indoor work continued through the winter.

The interior of the building will have a lot of natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows on the north side.

It will have state-of-the-art equipment, cutting edge technology, and contemporary physical therapy treatments. It will offer private pediatric rooms, a sensory room and a pediatric-specific gym, hospital officials said.

No other child-specific therapy space exists within a 100-mile radius of North Platte. The pediatric wing will be specifically designed to accommodate the unique needs of each developmental stage and diagnosis for children. Also, it will have space for expansion into autism specific therapy.

The center will have expanded equipment and space for all types of physical, occupational and speech-language therapy for all ages.

Construction is expected to be completed late this year, GPH Chief Development Officer Megan McGown has said. City Building Inspector Dave Hahn said the work is more than 75% complete now, but the existing center will be renovated too.

City Rec Center

The $39+ million, 130,000 square-foot rejuvenation of the nearly 50-year-old city recreation center is moving at an energetic pace.

More than 100 semi-truck loads of dirt were excavated for the new 10-lane indoor swimming pool, creating a large construction site inside thick concrete walls. The concrete for the pool is expected to be poured soon.

The main swimming pool will also have a kiddie pool alongside, plus a water slide that goes in and out of the building.

The walls and ceilings of most of the rest of the building are in place. It will have a 24-hour workout room, bathrooms and showers that adjoin the workout area and others that adjoin the pool, as well as a poolside party room.

The walls and ceiling are also in place for a tall, 30,000 square-foot indoor turf room that will easily accommodate soccer, flag football and other sports.

Construction began in late August. City Recreation Leader Gerry Berglund said officials believe the project is ahead of schedule, since the winter weather was cooperative. Sampson Construction is the general contractor.

Major work remains on what is now the indoor swimming pool, which will be converted into a gymnasium. An elevated walking track remains to be built, along with much indoor work throughout the building.

The building has several other features, such as an indoor kitchen, outdoor exercise patio, rock climbing wall, and all new heating and air conditioning. Glass windows are plentiful, providing natural light, plus a view of the South Platte River and the ballfields at Centennial Park.

The pool, the 24-hour fitness center and the indoor turf area are expected to open in March 2026. The new locker rooms and other exercise area will open a month or two later.

The remodeling of the existing facility will follow, with overall completion expected in March 2027.
In addition, two additional $1 million donations have been announced for the recreation project.

Beverage Inc., represented by CEO Brandon Jones, is providing $1 million in service and materials for the complex.

Great Plains Health, represented by Chief Development Officer Megan McGown, is donating $1 million to a long-term maintenance fund for the facility.

Mayor Brandon Kelliher said the new rec center will “be a place where children can play, where families can gather, and where we can all come together to celebrate our shared heritage.”

Cody Pool

Meanwhile, improvements to the city’s outdoor pool across town in Cody Park are well underway, with excavation complete for a new “lazy river” that runs along the east side of the pool.

Lazy rivers are a type of swimming pool with a winding, shallow channel that has a gentle current, allowing swimmers to float along on tubes or noodles and enjoy the changes of the surroundings.

This lazy river wraps around an island with a jetted pool area, a Baja shelf (a place for lawn chairs in shallow water), and an activity area. The north side of the lazy river will have a zero-depth entry with room for small children to play and benches for parents.

The $9.6 million renovation of Cody Pool is on schedule, City Engineer Brent Burklund said. Wayne Dowhower oversees the construction.

A new splash pad will be constructed near the lazy river. Construction of the lazy river is expected to take most of the summer, and won’t affect the existing 50-meter pool, which will be open from June 6-Aug. 12.

After that, renovation of the main pool will begin. For the most part, the pool will remain the same, but two additions will be made — a family slide to allow multiple people to slide simultaneously, as well as a drop slide.

The dive boards will remain in their current location.

The bathrooms will be renovated to include private stalls and showers, as well as the addition of a family-style bathhouse. The family-style bathrooms will be accessible even after the pool has closed for the season.

Pickleball-tennis complex

The new courts for pickleball and tennis are in play at Cody Park.

Workers from Renner painting of Denver expect to finish painting the surfaces within a week, weather permitting. Only five tennis courts remain to be painted.

The new complex is about twice the size of the old tennis courts. It has 10 pickleball courts and eight tennis courts. Light poles just been installed. Underground water was pumped out of the area for several days to make the installation easier. Currently, workers are paving a parking area on the south side of the courts.

Also, sidewalks and paved parking will be added on the south side of the courts. Longer term, bathrooms at the site are in the plans.

The cost of the complex is about $1.5 million. Of that, pickleball and tennis players raised nearly $500,000.
The grand opening of the new pickleball courts will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, kicking off a four-day tournament — the annual PFA Pickleball Roundup.

The “Mayors Cup” tournament will start the four days of pickleball matches. Professional Laura Fenton Kovanda will give an exhibition that day. Kovanda competed in the 2019 U.S. Open. And, she will conduct a clinic for members the North Platte Pickleball Club a couple days after the tournament ends.

Panda Express

(This report was first published in the Bulletin’s May 28 print edition.)

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