Sergeant Mad Bear Recreation Area opens in Gretna

GRETNA, Neb. (WOWT) – A new recreation area opened Thursday in Gretna, honoring a notable Nebraska Native American while reducing flooding risks.

The Sergeant Mad Bear Recreation Area, located just off 168th and Giles, was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The park is named after Sergeant Mad Bear, a Pawnee warrior who lived in the area during the 1860s. He was wounded in battle and became the first Native American in the country to receive the Medal of Honor.

“This lake that we’re here for is named after one of our soldiers. And a revered soldier,” said Pat Leading Fox, head chief of the Pawnee Nation Chiefs Council.

Honoring Pawnee heritage

Leading Fox said he was honored to see Mad Bear’s name live on at the site.

“He’s a Pawnee member. He’s a member of the band that I represent, Skidi Band, S-K-I-D-I. And to stand here, you know, where he could possibly have, you know, walked, you know, really is touching,” Leading Fox said.

For Leading Fox, the park represents more than a place to relax.

“This is our homeland here so you I always say home, we’re home,” he said.

Dual purpose: recreation and flood control

The park also serves as a flood reservoir, one of many managed by the Papio Missouri River NRD.

“This is part of a larger plan to control flows downstream. It works in conjunction with the levees and with the other reservoirs,” said Ian Ghanavati of the Papio Missouri River NRD.

The reservoir is currently empty but designed to fill with rainwater.

“Where the rock is, where you can kind of see the edge of the earth, that’s where the shoreline will come up to. We just need some rain to fill it,” Ghanavati said.

Community amenity

The empty reservoir has not deterred park visitors, who are already using the area’s other amenities.

Jen Boswell, a park visitor, said she uses the walking trail regularly.

“They just put in the trail from our street down to the path here. So yeah, I try to come down and walk at least three times around,” Boswell said.

Boswell said she is looking forward to using the park more as it develops.

“Walk, play, ride our bikes, scooters around here, fish. I think you could even put maybe like a kayak in here once it’s ready. So it’s going to be a great addition to the area for sure,” she said.

Sergeant Mad Bear is the second reservoir to open in the Papio NRD, following the Forest City Reservoir which opened last fall.