GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - A historic park in Grand Island is set to get some major upgrades thanks to a homegrown fundraising campaign that exceeded all expectations.

The community gathered Thursday night to celebrate the fundraising journey, and organizers shared what’s next for Stolley Park.

For generations, families have played, coached, and grown up at Stolley Park. Now, a grassroots campaign is making sure future generations get even more out of it.

The “All Aboard for Stolley Park” campaign brought in over eight-hundred-thousand-dollars.

“This touches the hearts of so many people: young, and maybe not so young. Memories have been shared throughout the years,” All Aboard for Stolley Park Co-Chair Becky Gdowski said. “If you’ve been to Stolley Park recently you’ve seen so many improvements.”

This funding is enough to transform the park’s train-themed area with tunnels, donor pavilions, climbing features, and a new bike zone.

The city teamed up with Olson and Associates to create the design which includes LED-lit tunnels, themed signage and nature-based play equipment. Much of it is already underway.

Construction will continue through the year, with most of the upgrades expected to be completed in 2026.