Located just outside of town, Cottonmill Park offers the opportunity to experience the great outdoors without driving far. On January 1, 1974, the governing of Cottonmill Park was officially transferred from the State to the City-County through Legislative bill LB163. Each governing body shares in the expense of running the park. The park is named after its original purpose of providing water power for the old Cottonmill Factory which was located south of the park. The park is a destination site especially for fishing, no-wake boating, disc golfing, and biking/walking on miles of natural trails. Cottonmill Day Camp is a popular program that draws over 400 children during the summer. The Kearney Rotary Club help fund and construct the Rotary Nature Barn in 1987. The Barn has a variety of interpretive displays and animals for people to enjoy. Cottonmill is the trailhead for the Cottonmill to Fort Kearny 13.1 mile paved hike/bike trail.
