IOLA, Kan. — U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), visited Lehigh Portland State Park on Thursday, August 13 following the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks’ grand opening celebration on Wednesday afternoon.
The celebration marked an exciting new chapter for Lehigh Portland State Park and the many volunteers, community members and local partners that devoted their time and energy to maintain and preserve its natural beauty and character.
“I grew up hunting and fishing, and just had the greatest life growing up.” Senator Marshall shared with Ad Astra Radio’s Account Executive and Iola Sports Director Brayton Lind. “I think that the outdoors opportunity is great, and especially with the mental health crisis that we have across the country, getting outside and just enjoying nature is one of the best, it’s worth twenty-hundred psychiatrists out there as well, so it’s just great to see something new opened up here.”
Senator Marshall doesn’t think the State Park will have any problem with tourism. He thinks that this will help keep people in the City of Iola and Allen County.
“People spend a lot of money when they enjoy camping and boating.” Senator Marshall said. “I don’t know how many hundreds of thousands of people will venture down this way, but it’s got to do something. They’ve got to get groceries, some food, some ice, maybe a beverage or two. So it will certainly help out some of the stores locally.”
The State Park project began about four years ago, in 2022. One of the things that stood out most during Senator Marshall’s visit was the $4 million Visitor Center.
“The Visitor Center blew me away,” Senator Marshall said. “They spared no expense.” Senator Marshall added that he could see the building being used for many things that bring people together such as a wedding venue, Ducks Unlimited Banque or anything with a sports theme.
Senator Marshall believes the State Park will boost economic development by bringing in more tourism and helping to keep people in Iola.
“It’s going to be the tourism part as well, but it’s also going to be good just to keep people in town. Certainly you need good health care, you need good schools but also if there’s some fun recreation opportunities, I think it helps the quality of life piece of that as well.”
Senator Marshall still enjoys fishing and said he may return to Lehigh Portland State Park in the fall when it isn’t so hot out and because the lake is supposedly a smallmouth bass lake, which is “very unique.”
Senator Marshall is currently on a “120 Stops to Strengthen Rural Kansas” Tour, a statewide effort focused on ensuring rural Kansas communities remain strong places to live, work, raise a family, and build a future. Learn more about that here.
