TOPEKA — Lehigh Portland is set to become Kansas’s 28th state park, fulfilling a dream 45 years in the making for local business representatives.
The final legislative hurdles were cleared in short order Thursday when Kansas senators and representatives overwhelmingly voted in favor of seeing the 360-acre parcel of land at the south edge of Iola be added to the state park system.
Next up is Gov. Laura Kelly’s signature sometime within the next two weeks, and then completing contracts transferring ownership of the property from Iola Industries to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
The formal changeover will occur this summer.
What will follow, and how soon the lake is reopened to the public, will depend on a number of factors dictating how quickly infrastructure is added to the 138-acre body of water.
“The lake most likely will not be open this summer,” noted Lisse Regehr, an Iola Industries board member and CEO of Thrive Allen County, which has worked in league with Iola Industries in putting the plan together. “Their number one priority is getting infrastructure in place: docks, getting the sewer taken care of, RV hookups, electricity.”
Regardless, the 14 miles of trails will remain open to the public throughout the transition, Regehr noted.
One key factor on infrastructure development hinges on whether the Lehigh Portland project will qualify for a State Park Revitalization and Investment in Notable Tourism (SPRINT) grant, an offshoot of SPARK (Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas), which were federal funds distributed to states in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Parks Director Linda Lanterman said, if successful, the entire $7.7 million Lehigh project could be funded from the SPRINT grant.
Features would include five fishing docks, four restroom buildings placed around the lake and trails, about 50 campsites, seven “floating” cabins positioned in the water and six regular cabins, two RV campgrounds, a visitor center, a splash park and playground and continued development of the more than 200 acres of surrounding trails.
The campground and recreation areas would include water, sewer and electricity.
The venue would also become a site for special events and activities including educational programs. Both a site manager certified in law enforcement and a ranger will be stationed at the park. Seasonal rangers, typically tapped from the local community, will also be on hand.
If that SPRINT grant funding falls short, Lanterman said she’ll pursue other grants as she has done for the development of other recreational areas.
One key tool in the KDWP’s arsenal for attracting the grant is the property itself, appraised at $2 million.
Because it’s donated land, the property can be used as leverage for grants requiring local matches, Regehr noted. “We saw great purpose in donating the land for that reason.”
