On October 1, 2026, a ribbon-cutting and recognition ceremony was held for Len Dickinson and Jule Goeller, along with the Timberlyne staff, for their generous donation of the resources necessary for the new pavilion at the Pilger Recreation Area.
The recreation area is in Stanton County, one mile east of Pilger and then one mile north. The watershed dam was constructed in 1966 as a Public Law (PL) 566 project, under the supervision of the USDA Soil Conservation Service.
The Pilger watershed has 4,700 acres of drainage. For 60 years now, the dam has been providing flood protection for 435 acres of agricultural land, 2.75 miles of road, 8 bridges, and the residences and businesses within a 10-block section of the Village of Pilger.
The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) developed the area as a public recreation facility in 1974 with funds from the Federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. The area was also the first PL 566 site in Nebraska to be developed for recreation by a Natural Resources District (NRD).
The LENRD purchased 118 acres at the site which includes the 54-surface acre lake and developed the area with recreation facilities over the years. The lake is stocked with fish by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission. Pilger Lake also provides 85-surface acres of floodwater protection behind the dam.
Thank you to Len and Jule for their giving spirit and deep appreciation for our natural resources. What they have shared with the Pilger area will be enjoyed and celebrated for years to come!