PARKS
The City of Bloomfield has two parks. The “City Park” is located in the south central part of the city. This park features a picnic shelter, horseshoe pits, two basketball hoops with concrete pads, and restrooms. The city park became home to new playground equipment in 2006.
The second park is the “Robin Schulz Memorial Park.” This park is located in the north part of the city. The park features a lighted regulation size softball field with enclosed dugouts, sheltered bleachers, restrooms, equipment rooms, and a concession stand. A second softball field, added in 1997, features enclosed dugouts and a ground level pressbox.
SWIMMING POOL
The municipal outdoor heated swimming pool was built in 1977, with a number of equipment replacements and upgrades since 1993, including the addition of a handicap accessibility lift system in 1994. The pool is located in the south central part of the city and is open from early June to early August. A picnic area with shelter is located adjacent to the swimming pool. A new slide and basketball hoop were added in 2000.
FAIRGROUNDS
The Knox County Fairgrounds, owned by the city, are located on the eastern edge of the Bloomfield. The fairgrounds contain a rodeo arena and livestock boarding, exhibition buildings, and camping spots with electrical outlets. Camping at the fairgrounds is $20.00 per night. In addition to the traditional buildings, the fairgrounds features a lighted baseball field with a concrete grandstand, restrooms, ticketbooth, and concession stand. Other features include a lighted football field.
KNOX COUNTY FAIR
Bloomfield is the annual host for the Knox County Fair, which is held in August. It has been rated among the top three fairs in the state of Nebraska. It features four days of fun-filled times. You will have the opportunity to see some of the top-billed performers in country music for three nights of the fair. The fair also features one of the finest midways around and has a livestock and exhibit show as good as you will see in the Midwest.
BLOOMFIELD ANNUAL HORSE SHOW
The Open Class Horse Show is held annually at the Harm and Tulleys Event Center located at the Knox County Fairgrounds in Bloomfield. This event is one of the largest open class horse shows in the area with repeat entrants from four states.
HARM & TULLEYS EVENT CENTER
Riding Club offers memberships to use the 100′ x 300′ lighted, insulated arena to ride regardless of weather conditions or time of day. Located at the Knox County Fairgrounds.
Events at the Harm and Tulleys Event Center include the exotic bird and animal sale, livestock shows/sales, roping events, team penning, open riding, barrel racing, auctions, and horse shows. For more information, call Jolene Greckel at (402) 373-4421 or Sunny Nagengast at (402) 373-4674.
SHANNON TRAIL
Bloomfield along with other neighboring communities are excited to help history come alive through the Private George Shannon Trail. Pvt. Shannon was the youngest member of the Lewis and Clark expedition who was separated from his party for 16 days in 1804. It was during this time that Shannon was exploring Northeast Nebraska.
Take a day or two to find the 13 Private Shannon statues in northeast Nebraska.
ST. ANDREW’S GOTTO
St. Andrew’s Grotto park was established in 1990 and consists of numerous religious statues providing its visitors a serene environment.
MUSEUM
The Bloomfield Community Historical Society manages the museum, which is housed in the former library. The museum, established in 2000, is a great place to find out more about Bloomfield’s rich history. Check out the museum during the Bloomfield Appreciation Dayz/BHS Alumni Reunion or by appointment.
HUNTING
The Knox County area surrounding Bloomfield is a hunter’s paradise, featuring some of the finest deer hunting in the state of Nebraska. This is coupled with an abundance of other wildlife featuring pheasant, turkey, quail, squirrels, and rabbits. Thousand of waterfowl frequent Lewis & Clark Lake and the many small impoundments as the birds migrate back and forth. There are also many farm ponds stocked with fish in the area, and many times all it takes is a friendly request to the landowner to use these facilities.
OTHER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND LOCATIONS
The Rolling Hills Country Club and Golf Course offers a public nine hole golf course with a clubhouse. This course is a great value, catering to all skill levels. The golf course is located seven miles south of Bloomfield on a county road. A new irrigation system was installed in 2000. This course requires no tee times. For more information contact Rolling Hills Country Club at (402) 586-2507.
Gavins Point Dam and Lewis and Clark Lake on the Missouri River are located 20 miles north of Bloomfield and feature fishing, boating, hiking, camping, and a variety of other outdoor activities.
For sightseeing, the Devil’s Nest area along Lewis & Clark Lake is second to none. The area was used as a hideout for Jesse James. Abundant wildlife can been seen on a drive along the lake.
Bloomfield also rests amid several other attractions, namely Ashfall State Park near Royal on Highway 20; Niobrara State Park; and Grove Lake, a fine fishing lake near Royal which is also home to the Nebraska Game and Park Commission’s trout rearing station.