Family plans to give park to city

McCook Community Foundation and Marty Russell of Castle Rock, Colo., have announced a joint effort to add a new park to the city of McCook.

The project, which must be approved by the City Council, will redevelop the city-owned lot that encompasses the east water tower on East Fifth Street.

The park will include a full basketball court, a playground with assorted equipment, a tether ball court, a horse shoe pit, a barbecue grill and several picnic tables.

In addition, the project will include landscaping and a tree-lined walk along the Fifth Street side of the park.

The park will be funded through a gift from the Martin Russell family to McCook Community Foundation.

A 1963 graduate of MHS, Marty Russell, son of Carson Russell, provided the actual design and specifications for the park through his company in Castle Rock -- the Russell Group.

McCook Community Foundation will work with the Parks Advisory Committee and the City of McCook to provide construction of the improvements.

With the City Council's approval, the park will be named "Russell Park" in memory of Carson Russell.

Carson Russell was a practicing attorney in McCook for several years before he died in September 1983. Carson moved to McCook from Iowa as a young lad with his family, as his father began working for the railroad.

After graduation from McCook High School in 1920, Carson attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and subsequently graduated from the Nebraska Law School.

Carson returned to McCook where he practiced law for more than 50 years. He was a member of both the Nebraska and Colorado Bar Associations and served several years as McCook's City Attorney.

He also represented the Burlington Northern Railroad as their local counsel. Carson was active in the local community serving on the school board and as a board of director for First National Bank of McCook.

He also served two terms in the Nebraska House of Representatives, just a few years before it converted to the Unicameral system. At 27, Carson was the youngest representative in the Legislature.

In McCook, Carson practiced for years with Tom Colfer and at one time the law partnership included George Norris. After retirement Carson moved briefly to Estes Park, Colo., returning to McCook in 1978 upon the death of his wife. He then resided in McCook until his death in 1983.

McCook Community Foundation will present the park plans to the McCook City Council at their April 17 meeting. If approved, the project is expected to begin construction yet this spring.

Mark Graff, Chairman of the Foundation is excited about the project. "It has been a joy working with the Carson Russell family to see this dream work toward reality. These plans will not only redevelop the area around the water tower, but it will provide another location for family gatherings and exercise and entertainment for our youth.

It will also serve as a reminder of the individuals, like Carson Russell, that played such an influential role in the development of our community."

Denise Ringenberg, Executive Director of the Foundation added, "The Russell gift is another example of donors utilizing McCook Community Foundation to benefit the community. We are honored that Marty Russell believes in giving back to his hometown."

McCook Community Foundation is affiliated with the Nebraska Community Foundation. Several causes have utilized the foundation and its 501(c)3 status to raise funds, such as, Share-A-Seat Campaign, diving board project at the YMCA, Bison Alumni Newsletter and the McCook Toy Box.

For more information, contact P. Mark Graff at (308) 345-4240, Chairman, McCook Community Foundation, Denise Ringenberg, Executive Director at (308) 345-5188 or email at foundation@mccookne.org. or Marty Russell at (303) 589-1270.