Things to Do in Kearney, NE, With Kids
Keeping kids engaged can be a challenge for parents, even as they get older and their interests diversify. Fortunately, there’s a world of things to do in Kearney NE with kids, just waiting to be explored and enjoyed.
“We don’t sit well, so every weekend, we are out doing something with Crew,” local resident Courtney Burbach says of her 2-year-old son. “Whether it’s the children’s museum or parks, there are a lot of different things we enjoy.”
Burbach grew up in Kearney and is now development director for the Kearney Family YMCA.
Small City, Big Opportunities
“Kearney is like a big, small town,” says Burbach, who enjoys playing sports with her husband, TJ. “We have everything we need, including lots of opportunities for recreation, shopping, restaurants, work, etc., but at the same time, we know everyone.”
With a low crime rate, a manageable cost of living, good schools and well-maintained neighborhoods, Kearney is accessible and welcoming. It’s the kind of place where people say “hi” to one another on the street.
“There is no havoc here,” Burbach says. “We’re Midwest nice, and we’re used to talking to others and engaging. You don’t find that everywhere.”
Warm Welcome
Like many residents, Burbach is a University of Nebraska at Kearney graduate, as is resident Dan Schumacher, who owns Schumacher Fencing. He and his wife, Bergan, an attorney, are raising two daughters.
“I think Kearney is a great place to raise a family,” he says. “There are lots of job opportunities, plenty of places to shop and eat, and plenty of places for kids to play and learn, all while being safe.”
Besides the abundant amenities Kearney offers, Burbach says its strong community spirit makes the city thrive.
“We support one another here,” she says. “We have a lot of opportunity in general for recreation, kids, professional development. People should know if they’re moving here that they will be well taken care of. I don’t know of a single family that moved to Kearney and then left.”
Places to Play
The city’s family-friendly amenities, from its parks to its museums, are hard to match.
Cottonmill Park, an expanse of green space on the edge of Kearney, offers a 42-acre lake for boating, fishing and swimming, playground equipment, horseshoe courts, a disc golf course, picnic areas, a nature barn, sand volleyball courts, lots of hiking trails, and an amphitheater.
Yanney Heritage Park draws families with its observation tower, flower gardens, splash pads and lake.
Fort Kearny State Recreation Area is a great place to camp, fish and view the world’s largest concentration of sand hill cranes in the spring.
The award-winning Kearney Area Children’s Museum offers more than 20 creative, interactive exhibits and a year-round calendar of fun things to do, such as the Bubble Run, a race that leaves participants laughing and covered in foam, and Breakfast with Santa.
“The public library, which we love, has really stepped up its game in the past few years and has lots going on,” Burbach says. These include things like story times, a book festival, workshops for writers and poetry readings.
“We love to go out to eat, go to all the parks Kearney has to offer, shop and go to the movies,” Schumacher says. “My two girls love the parks and splash pads here in Kearney. We go to multiple places almost weekly.”
Get to Know Kearney
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