Each month, a “See, Hear Iola” presentation takes place at the Riverfront Park Community Building, in which community leaders inform the public about what’s going on in the city. For April, Thrive Allen County Executive Director David Toland spoke about Allen County’s growing trails system.

Toland detailed the projects in our trail system:

• The Prairie Spirit Trail came to Iola in 2008, courtesy of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, and was extended from Cofachique Park to Riverside Park by the city of Iola in 2012. There are about 8.5 miles of the 52-mile Prairie Spirit Trail in Allen County.
• The Southwind Rail Trail opened in 2013, and connects Iola and Humboldt, a distance of about 6.5 miles.
• The Lehigh Portland Trails are being built on land surrounding Quarry Lake on the southeastern edge of Iola, and will feature about 2 miles of wide gravel trail and about 8 miles of natural-surface singletrack trail for biking, hiking, and trail running.
• The Mo-Pac Recreational Trail is currently being constructed, and will connect central Iola to the Prairie Spirit Trail on a half-mile trail.

He also provided a preview of future trail-related plans:

• Thrive and the City of Iola are considering options to span Elm Creek on Washington Avenue, replacing the original Washington Avenue Bridge, which was razed in the 1990s. The new structure will provide a safe and convenient off-road route for Iola residents to access the South Elm Creek Park and the western trailhead of the Lehigh Portland Trails.
• There are plans to extend the Mo-Pac Trail eastward, across Kentucky Street and US-54, eventually forming a link in a loop that will largely encircle the city.
• A new event, the Portland Alley Pedalfest, is being planned for September 12-13. This will be a two-day festival that will include group rides on Allen County trails and roads, music, food, an expo, and bike demos.

Toland also unveiled new signage that will be installed along the trail system, that will help trail users to find services and amenities along the route. The signs, within Iola, will incorporate a theme and design that follows the Vision Iola branding, and that will complement other city signs and branding. The signs will feature wayfinding information, the City of Iola logo, and the message “Bike – Walk – Live”.

The Iola Register was on hand to report (Toland shares vision of active communities):

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.

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.