(KLZA)-- The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is awarding the community of Auburn $600-thousand from the National Park Service. 
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Stateside Assistance Program and Recreational Trail Program will provide the funds to make improvements to the swimming pool and sports courts at Legion Memorial Park.
Previously the project was awarded $562-thousand from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development's Civic and Community Center Financing Fund. The new grant monies will bring the total grant funds for the project to $1.162 million for an overall project total of $1.724,000 including the local match.
The project will include renovations to the existing swimming pool and sports courts located in Legion Memorial Park. The city plans to utilize the funds to add new features to the pool such as zero-depth entry, improvements to the bathhouse and improvements to the operation of the pools major systems.
The sports courts project will include renovation of the playing surface and conversion of two existing tennis courts to four pickleball courts, and install nets, poles and fences for the expanded courts with nets and hoops for the remaining tennis court and basketball courts.  
Construction of the project is to begin following federal approval in the summer of 2026.  
Funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund comes from the U.S. Department of the Interior and federal oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf.