Platte PEER Group (Bader Park/Dark Island Trail)

Platte PEER Group manages Bader Park, a 270 acre nature preserve and campground, and owns the Dark Island Trail, an eight mile trail that connects Central City to Marquette. We provide education and recreation at Bader Park and Dark Island Trail to enhance the quality of life of our community and protect our natural areas. We exist to create and protect natural areas for the public to enjoy. Our passion is getting people outside to explore and learn about natural areas that we live in. People - We provide public areas to explore the outdoors Education - We strive to provide education about our natural areas Environment - We promote sustainability and stewardship of the land Recreation - We manage and improve areas for outdoor recreation

Platte PEER Group is a 501(3)(c) organization that formed in 2003 to handle the day to day operation of the 270 acre Bader Park located south of Chapman, NE. Shortly after forming, the group was able to gain ownership of the abandoned railway from Central City to Marquette and quickly started forming it into the Dark Island Trail. They continue to operate with a volunteer board to further their mission to provide education and recreation at Bader Park and Dark Island Trail to enhance the quality of life of our community and protect our natural areas.

Over 50,000 people visit Bader Park every year and many more use the Dark Island Trail. These locations have become a staple in the everyday life of many people in Hall, Merrick, Hamilton and Howard counties. We are proud to provide and care for these areas but we cannot do it without the support of people like you.

Testimonials

Platte PEER Group does amazing work on the Dark Island Trail and at Bader Park. They are a volunteer board who donate their time, energy, and resources to care for and to improve these public areas. Without them and people like you, these areas wouldn't be the treasures that they are.