City Council Addresses Karrer Park Closure, Safety Concerns, and Homelessness Challenges

McCook, Neb. – Karrer Park, McCook’s long-used free camping area, has been closed until further notice as city officials work to address rising safety concerns and increased misuse of the facility.

Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff said while the park was originally intended for travelers making short stops, it has increasingly been used as a permanent residence by individuals with nowhere else to go. “We’ve had abuse of the facility for several years, but this year it’s gotten a lot worse,” Potthoff said.

City employees have fielded calls from travelers who no longer feel safe staying at the park. “That really concerned us,” Potthoff added, noting that city staff and police have also raised safety concerns for employees who work in the area.

Growing Safety Risks for Staff and Residents

City Manager Nate Schneider stressed that the closure wasn’t a “knee-jerk reaction” but a step taken after repeated issues. He described situations where public works employees, often unarmed, had to interact with people staying at the park, not knowing what they might encounter.

“I went down there with Kyle one time, and I was nervous,” Schneider said. “You don’t know if someone might have a weapon hidden in a camper, or what kind of mental health crisis they might be experiencing.”

The city has already installed time locks on park restrooms to discourage overnight use, but Schneider said those measures often fail. “Every time they break those locks, it costs the city about $1,800 to repair. We’ve seen people wedge rocks into the doors to keep them open after hours.”

Potthoff shared another example from Norris Park, where a mother reported two men living in the public restroom in the middle of the day. “That’s a real concern for families,” he said, adding that some people have also attempted to live in the bandshell and other park structures.

Homelessness in McCook: A Local Challenge

While some might assume the issue is caused by transients passing through, city officials say that’s not the case.

“The people causing most of the problems are locals,” Schneider explained. “They grew up in McCook. This is their home, and leaving for a homeless shelter in North Platte or Hastings feels like losing everything, even if they don’t have much right now.”

Police Chief Kevin Hodgson added that homelessness is a complex issue with no easy solutions. “It’s not new, but it’s gotten worse,” Hodgson said. “And it raises bigger questions—who owns this problem? Is it law enforcement, city government, or the community as a whole? It’s going to take all of us working together.”

A recent Supreme Court ruling also limits how cities can regulate homelessness, meaning McCook must be cautious in drafting ordinances to avoid constitutional challenges. City Attorney Nate Mustion is currently preparing new ordinances to help the city better manage public spaces while staying within legal boundaries.

Impact Beyond Karrer Park

The problems aren’t limited to parks. A resident speaking during public comments described finding someone living behind the Knights of Columbus building. “It scared my wife,” he said. “We found clothes, backpacks, sleeping bags, food—clearly they had been there for days.”

Schneider acknowledged this is part of the broader challenge. “If we move people out of public spaces, they often relocate to private properties,” he said. “We can’t just wave a magic wand and solve this, but we are trying to find solutions that balance public safety with compassion.”

What’s Next for Karrer Park?

City officials emphasize the closure is temporary, and the goal is to reopen the park once better enforcement tools are in place. Potthoff said new ordinances will give police the ability to address problems more effectively, but for now, the park is closed to all activity, including RV dumping.

The city encourages residents to report suspicious activity in any public park by contacting the McCook Police Department at (308) 345-3450.

Updates on the park’s status will be shared as new ordinances are finalized and safety concerns are addressed.