Saturdays opening of the King of Trails Bridge on South Washington Avenue over Elm Creek, which connects Iola with the Lehigh Portland Trails complex, takes away peoples excuses, Iola Mayor Jon Wells said.
Excuses like:
I want to use the trails, but Im not going to drive there.
I just cant run that far. Id like to walk, but Ill never get there.
Those excuses wont work anymore, Wells said in a speech at Saturdays dedication ceremony for the new bridge. The bridge forces Iolas residents to reconsider their options.
City leaders made excuses, too, Wells acknowledged.
For 20 or 30 years, people have talked about this bridge and every year was, we couldnt afford it, Wells said. And when we make excuses in our lives they become our reality.
Thrive Allen County worked with the City of Iola, Allen County and numerous other organizations to raise money to build the bridge, thereby taking away those excuses.
They were kind of that personal trainer to the city that says Five more sit-ups, Wells said.
Grant funding covered all but $12,500 of the $345,000 bridge and other costs. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks contributed $197,000; the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City gave $76,112; Sunflower Foundation and Thrives Community Engagement Initiative through the Kansas Health Foundation each gave $30,000; People for Bikes gave $10,000; and New Belgium Brewing gave $2,500. The city paid for the rest and contributed staff time, with the citys role overseen by Corey Schinstock, assistant city administrator.
The project truly was a collaborative effort, Damaris Kunkler, Community Engagement director for Thrive, said.
We wrote a lot of grants and the beautiful thing about it is that every single time, the funders said yes, she said.
Kunkler, Wells and John McRae, president of Iola Industries, spoke briefly during the dedication ceremony. McRae talked about the history of the area, part of a cement plant going back 120 years. After the Lehigh Portland Cement company closed in 1971, Iola Industries purchased the land and managed the property until Thrive and Sunflower Trails built the current trail system.
It pleases me to open this back up to the community, McRae said of the increased access. It rightfully belongs to the community and Iola Industries will do everything it can to further that cause.
