Kansas' new state park already has "crystal clear blue water" and miles of trails, and it is now closer to having more amenities.
Kansas lawmakers last year created Lehigh Portland State Park in Iola. Now, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is working on infrastructure improvements around the 138-acre lake on a nearly 360-acre property.
The state is bidding out contracts to construct a visitor's center, a limestone campground, a shale campground and such infrastructure as water, sewer and roads.
When Gov. Laura Kelly ceremonially signed the bill last year, Brad Loveless, the then-secretary of KDWP, indicated more work was needed.
He said: "Tremendous value is being added to Kansas' already world-class state parks system in the form of a beautiful lake and quality trails. While I know this property is going to be an instant hit with our park-goers, I also know that our park staff's plans for development will make it even more inviting in the very near future."
What Lehigh Portland infrastructure work is KDWP bidding out?
The state government contracting portal shows KDWP has four open requests for proposals. The agency is looking for contractors to build the following:
- A limestone campground.
- A shale campground.
- A visitor's center.
- Infrastructure, including water, sewer, a lagoon and roads.
An engineering report in the technical specification documents gives more indication on the infrastructure plans.
That report calls for a park entry and visitor's center on the south side of the lake, a facilities building near the proposed wastewater treatment lagoon at the southeast corner of the project site, a restroom building south of the main parking lots, a shower house building near the boat dock and an amphitheater at the west end of the project site.
The report also states that "a significant amount of rock will be blasted from the ground on the south side of the lake to remove the existing bluff for a swim beach." Plans also call for six cabins on the south side of the lake. Plus, the plan has pavement for two circular RV parks, as well as paved drive lanes and parking areas throughout the side. The number of parking spaces is unknown.
The state agency didn't respond to a request for comment on plans for the park.
What makes Lehigh Portland different from 28 other Kansas state parks?
Lehigh Portland is the 29th state park in Kansas.
Linda Lanterman, the KDWP parks director, talked with legislators last year after top Wildlife and Parks officials visited the location. She said the lake near Iola is roughly the same size as that of Historic Lake Scott State Park in western Kansas, and the trails are similar to those at Cross Timbers State Park near Yates Center and Tuttle Creek State Park near Manhattan.
More: This lake has crystal clear blue water and miles of trails — and it could be Kansas' next state park
"The secretary, myself and my team went out there and took a look at the property and we hiked the trails," Lanterman said. "When you come off the trail and you get on one of the cliffs and you come and see the beautiful crystal clear blue water, which I've not seen in any of our state parks before, it's just a gorgeous piece of property."
The park is the cite of a former cement plant, and the lake is the old quarry. The limestone is credited with filtering the water, making the lake clear.
The park also has more than 14 miles of trails, which connect to the Southwind Rail Trail and Prairie Spirit State Park.
The governor's office said Lehigh Portland is one of the most visited spots for birding in southeast Kansas with about 180 different species of birds.
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Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd .
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: It has a clear lake and trails. Now Kansas' new state park is getting amenities.
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