Having a state park in Iola would be a boon to the community, several downtown merchants agreed.
In a short survey of proprietors along Madison Avenue, most said they supported an effort to convert the old Elks Lake and surrounding trails into Lehigh Portland State Park, saying it would allow greater public access to the lake and be a boon to the local economy.
Such a plan was introduced this month to Kansas lawmakers, who along with Gov. Laura Kelly, have the final say.
The lake and surrounding Lehigh Portland Trails system is owned by Iola Industries, a group of local businessmen focused on local economic development.
The organization purchased the land when the old Lehigh Portland Cement Plant closed its doors for good in 1971.
For the past 40 years, the lake — created when springwater filled the limestone quarry used in cement production — had been leased to the Iola Elks for $1 a year.
Iola Industries ended that lease in December.
Kim Folk, owner of Salon Nyne, an Elks member, said the group was caught off guard by the announcement last fall of Iola Industries’ intention.
“It’s too bad because it really will affect their membership,” she said.
Nevertheless, Folk supports seeing the land turned into a state park.
“This will be a good thing for the area, especially with the bike trails,” she said. “It’s so beautiful around there.”
Tammy Dieker, whose husband Jeff was an Elks member, also said her early concerns had been assuaged once she learned about the state park proposal.
“That would be great, to open the lake up for everybody,” she said. “This will be a great thing to get people into town.”
State Farm Insurance agent Terry Sparks agreed.
“Nothing against the Elks and the long time period they’ve had the lease on that,” Sparks said. “But if the state of Kansas could take that over, there’s a lot more that could be done with it and probably solidify its place in the long-term future.
