On March 26th, the John Robertson Memorial Cross Country Ski Trail was dedicated to the memory of John Robertson, who was the Development Director at Thrive Allen County until his untimely death in late 2015. John wrote the grant proposal that landed a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, kicking off the Lehigh Portland Trails project. It was his vision that shaped what the trails have become.
The trail sign, commissioned from local artisan Pat Haire, is located along the Backbone Trail, near a picnic table overlooking the quarry lake. But in reality, the entire trail system is open for cross-country skiing, weather permitting.
On hand to dedicate this monument to John’s legacy were John’s wife, Karen; John’s son, Tommie, and John’s brother, Dave; as well as trail volunteers and Thrive Allen County staff and board members.
And yes, we realize that Southeast Kansas rarely receives enough snow for skiing, and John, of course, knew that as well. But John had a mischievous streak, and knew that the more active activities that could be realized on the trails, the better the chances for getting the grant. A cross-country ski trail was one of John’s more fanciful notions. But it had a more personal meaning as well. John and Karen’s first date was cross-country skiing in Michigan.