Lehigh Portland State Park will become official on July 1, Linda Lanterman, director of Kansas State Parks, told Iola Industries members and their guests Tuesday evening.
Lanterman was the guest speaker at the annual meeting of the organization, celebrating its 68th anniversary.
For much of 2022 and this year’s legislative session, Lanterman worked closely with members of Thrive Allen County and Iola Industries in developing a plan for the former Elks Lake and its surrounding 360 acres to become a state park.
The 500-acre parcel is owned by Iola Industries, whose long-term goal has been for it to be developed into a public park. The land will be transferred into state hands by July 1.
Lanterman was crucial in selling the park’s potential to legislators, who approved the measure, House Bill 2331, in April. Gov. Laura Kelly signed the measure shortly thereafter. 
At first glance, Lanterman said she knew the lake’s crystal-clear waters were a treasure.
“You have something here that we don’t have anywhere else. Most of our lakes are fairly muddy, not like the blue water you have here,” she said of the state’s park system. “When I first saw the lake, all I could see was its potential to be something amazing. The Kansas State Parks system is truly grateful for the gift of this land,” she said.
Crews are currently surveying the land to determine easements and borders, Lanterman said.
Once in state ownership, the first goal is to develop 50 to 60 campsites.
“They will not be the same design as what was there before,” she said, and will include “at least water and electricity. I’m trying to make sure we can do the sewer.”
The lake will be stocked with fish, she said, but did not elaborate on which kind, adding it will be up to biologists in the Fisheries Division of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks.
Restrooms situated along the 14 miles of trails are also an immediate priority.
Critical to the park’s success will be volunteers.
“We have lots of volunteers at all our state parks. We couldn’t make it without our friends’ groups,” she said.
The state park can be expected to bring in about $7.5 million in additional annual revenue, noted Lisse Regehr, CEO of Thrive and a member of Iola Industries.
