Thrive Allen County is working to create a more active culture.
Thrive’s executive director, David Toland, spoke Friday at the monthly See, Hear Iola session to give an update on the trail system.
Iola’s trail system started in 2008 with the opening of the Prairie Spirit Trail.
Community members had a vision to expand the trail to Humboldt. Volunteers helped link the two largest cities in Allen County together with 6.5 miles of trail, now known as the Southwind Rail Trail.
Today, Thrive is working on the Lehigh Portland trail, on land surrounding the cement plant, which operated from 1901 to 1970, and is now owned by Iola Industries.
Toland said there will be approximately two miles of hard surface and approximately eight miles of single track for mountain biking.
The trail will be open to the public.
“Iola Industries saw economic potential in what had been abandoned,” Toland said.
The Mo-Pac trail is a project with the City of Iola and Kansas Department of Transportation. This will be a paved trail across town.
Thrive continues to encourage Iolans to ride bikes and be healthy. Last year Allen County took third in the U.S.. in the National Bike Challenge. The challenge is an effort to get riders to log their miles from May to September.
Organizers hope more cyclists will participate this year.
In September Thrive will host the Portland Alley Pedalfest. It will have biking, music and fun for the whole family. This is to attract outsiders to Allen County’s biking community.
Toland shares vision of active communities
