Gilbert Pool & Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Gilbert Pool & Park is a popular recreational area located in Grand Island, Nebraska.


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Summary

The park is spread over 35 acres and offers visitors a range of outdoor activities and amenities. Some of the top reasons to visit the park include its swimming pool, playgrounds, tennis courts, and picnic areas. The park is also popular for its walking trails and scenic views of the nearby Platte River.

One of the main attractions within Gilbert Pool & Park is the large outdoor swimming pool, which is open during the summer months. The pool features a waterslide, diving board, and plenty of space for visitors to splash around and cool off.

Other popular points of interest within the park include the tennis courts, basketball court, and sand volleyball court. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of outdoor games, including horseshoes and disc golf.

Interesting facts about Gilbert Pool & Park include its location near the historic Mormon Island State Recreation Area, which was once an important rest stop for pioneers traveling westward on the Oregon Trail. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, turkeys, and migratory birds.

The best time of year to visit Gilbert Pool & Park is during the summer months when the pool is open and the weather is warm. However, the park is also open year-round and offers a range of activities for visitors to enjoy during the fall and winter months. Overall, Gilbert Pool & Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors in Nebraska.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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