Recently KOAM TV 7 reporter Stacey Lindsay visited Iola to do a story on the Lehigh Portland Trails. She had seen the Iola Register piece (Upward Bound Volunteers Help Clear the Lehigh Portland Trails), and wanted to share the news with her regional audience.
Thrive Allen County Executive Director David Toland and volunteer Randy Rasa met with Ms. Lindsay on the Lehigh Portland Trails to tour the trails and discuss the project:
Once the site of the former Lehigh Portland Cement Company, the land is now owned by Iola Industries Inc, which agreed to allow the county to turn the space into a trail system.
“This is a breathtaking piece of land. Part of our strategy here is to encourage people to get out and be active by using the natural assets that are around us.”
The trails will span approximately 10 miles, of which 8 miles will be single track trails. And then there will be an extra wide two mile trail that will covered in crushed limestone.
“It will be available to everybody from people in wheelchairs to folks who want to run or walk or bike,” said Toland.
Volunteers from various counties have been coming out to help clear the path. Rasa says he hopes to see more.
“Once they see this land and what we’re building, they’re going to feel a part of it.”
The goal is to have the main portion of the trails completed by the summer. Some of the single track trails are completed and are already being enjoyed.
Read more and watch the video: New Iola trail system funded by Kansas Health Foundation attracts volunteers
(Note: An early version of the story, along with the video itself, reported that the trail was funded by the Kansas Department of Health. Actually, the trail is being funded by a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation!)
Thank you to Stacey Lindsay and KOAM-TV for visiting our trails and helping to spread the word!
