For over a decade, residents, neighbors, and tourists have witnessed the moment the spirit of autumn departs and the winter holidays begin with the City of Papillion's Winter Wonderland and the annual Christmas displays, offering more light in the dark winter months. In reality, it's hundreds of thousands of lights.
"I think with this year, with the extra things, if you counted all the little lights on them, it’s right at a million," says Casey Ballou, Assistant Parks and Facilities Director for the City of Papillion. “It’s a lot of handwork, but when the lights click on and you see the kids ooh and ah, you say, ‘Ok, that was worth it.’”
Ballou said the City has expanded yearly since 2012, including lights in nearby Halleck Park's duck pond path, new light-up trees, and a new display with a 22-foot all-bright-white snowflake tree unveiled this year.
“There’s all kinds of different features. So every year you’ll go, you’ll remember some things, but there’s always something new," says Ballou.
"It is no small effort to do this, and if we ever wonder if it is worth it, the validation comes with Winter Wonderland and all of the positive feedback throughout the season that they are on," adds Papillion Mayor David Black. "For many people, I think it is the key thing that transitions from fall and Thanksgiving to Winter, the holiday season, and Christmas."
Mayor Black and Ballou credit the Papillion Parks Department's hard work, beginning as early as September, including Parks Director Tony Gowan, who seeks to add more "magic" each year to the display.
“My parks guys, they won’t ever tell you they love it, but they do," says Ballou with a smile. "I hope they see how big of an impact they make on these families and kids.”