In just a few days, the shrills and splashes of delighted children will be heard at Lakin’s outdoor swimming pool in the City Park. The opening of the swimming pool is an annual tradition that children and adults alike have been enjoying for nearly 75 years. Lakin’s City Park is the result of cooperative efforts over the years between the City of Lakin, Kearny County commissioners, Lakin Recreation Commission, countless donors and volunteers, and organizations like Lakin PRIDE, Lakin “50” Club, Civic and Study Club, Moonlight Chicks, Lakin Young Woman’s Club, La Flora Garden Club, PICS (Partners in Community Service) and the VFW Auxiliary.In September 1946, voters approved general obligation bonds in the amount of $40,000 to establish a municipal park and swimming pool. Land was purchased from Howard Brehm, Elton Beymer, James Doyle and John Campbell. A swimming pool was constructed by Walters Sand Company of Manhattan in 1948. The City had hoped to have the pool open for July 4th that year, but two valves for the filtering equipment did not arrive in time. Undaunted, the savvy city crew used fire hoses to fill the pool. A bathhouse was added the following year. In 1966, voters approved a $45,000 bond issue to replace the pool and bathhouse because they could not accommodate the large number of swimmers and maintenance costs had been excessive. With the federal government funding half of the project, contractor P. L. Dale completed the pool and new bathhouse in 1968. Since then, other improvements have been made including the installment of slides and shade shelters.
In 1999, Clyde Beymer donated a million dollars in memory of his wife, Barbara, to construct an indoor swimming pool, and county commissioners agreed to chip in up to $250,000. The old bathhouse was demolished as locker rooms with private showers and a concession area were included in the Beymer Aquatic Center which opened May 2001. The pool was a welcome addition in the community and is used year-round.
In the ‘50s, the Lakin “50” Club donated a complete set of playground equipment, and along with the VFW Auxillary, donated money for a picnic area in the park. Many of the original trees and shrubs were donated and planted by volunteers and City employees under the direction of Ad McVey, former superintendent of parks. Plantings included spruce trees, red cedars, Lombardy poplars, shade trees and flowering peach trees. At one time, a large Christmas tree and nativity set were placed in the park for the yuletide holidays.
Mary Thornbrough covered the bulk of the expense to build the Boy Scout Cabin in City Park in memory of her son Wayne, a pilot who perished during a combat mission in World War II. Doyle and Campbell contributed the $1,195 they had received for park land to the cause as well. The Scouts also raised funds and received other donations. Scout members did much of the rough work, and some of the finishing was done by the Legionnaires. Under the direction of Paul McVey, City Manager from 1953-1956, the City crew and volunteers completed the project. According to the City of Lakin, the fireplace was built about 1957 from stone donated by Marvin Kash, and the cement floor was poured about 1959. The Lakin YWCA bought evergreens that were planted in front of the scout cabin in memory of Ethel Norris and Marion Hurst, past presidents of the club. Thelma Leonard planted a bed of cannas just east of the building.
In 1964, the City Council gave permission to the Girl Scouts to build their scout house in the park. The Jaycees ran the foundation in September of 1965 but did not start constructing the building until two years later. The building was funded by the Jaycees, American Legion, BPW, Girl Scout fundraisers, and other group and individual donations. The Girl Scout Cabin is now being renovated and will be the site of the City’s new community daycare.
As his Eagle Scout project in 2014, Yordi Siersema built an awning for a covered picnic area towards the east end of the park. The project was dedicated in memory of siblings Catherine and Bryan Elliott who were both active in scouting and killed in a vehicle accident in August 2005. In 2020, Conor Jones came up with the idea of a bicycle repair station for his Eagle Scout project. Located near the basketball courts, the project was completed by Jones, some of his scouting friends, and the City crew.
The basketball courts were originally tennis courts. Construction began in 1965 with Don Canfield, then minister for the First Christian Church, leading the charge. The courts were built with youth and volunteer labor and funded solely through donations and fundraisers. Over the years, the popularity of tennis waned, and the courts gave way to basketball courts in the early ‘90s. The renovation of the courts was a 2015 PRIDE project. The old concrete was removed and new poured, court lines painted, and six goals installed. A donor sidewalk engraved with names of the top donors was also included in the project.
SOURCES: City of Lakin minutes, Lakin Independent and Museum archives
