The Neosho River bridge has for years been something of an unofficial congregating area for Iolans young and old.
Fishing enthusiasts note the river on the west edge of Iola marks one of the few places in Kansas where they can legally harvest spoonbill.
Picnickers, meanwhile, enjoy the secluded views of the river, regardless of whether rains have swollen the waters to a swift roar, or if abnormally dry conditions slow the current to a trickle.
Jim Smith paid the area a visit over the weekend, and was aghast at what he saw.
A dumpster was filled beyond capacity, with extra refuse strewn about, including a trail of litter down the river banks to the water’s edge.
“There was an elderly couple having a picnic,” Smith said. “They shouldn’t have to sit out here with the trash.”
Smith cleaned up the trash on Saturday, but windy conditions overnight and into Sunday blew much of the refuse back onto the ground.
“All the trash had been blown back right back down to the banks,” he noted. “So I cleaned it up again.”
A picnic area at the south edge of the parking lot also caught Smith’s eye.
A large downed tree had been neglected for more than a year, and other smaller trees had begun to suffer at the hands of overgrown grape vines.
“Those trees are dying because of the grapevines,” he said. “It chokes them off. I’d guess over half those trees are dead.”
So Smith returned with a chainsaw, loppers and other equipment to begin clearing out the dense growth.
By Tuesday, Smith had cleared up much of the picnic area, creating large piles of brush.
“I just thought it needed to be done, and I’ve got the time,” Smith said. “This is too pretty of a place to just let it go.”
Smith is uncertain how long the rehab effort will continue. “I’ll go until it’s done.”
He also extended an invitation for other volunteers to give an assist.
