Rains slow park work

Despite losing 39 work days over the past three months due to rain, officials are hopeful construction of a new visitors center at Lehigh Portland State Park will be finished this fall.

By

Local News

July 8, 2025 - 1:54 PM

316 Concrete worker Cory Alexander cuts a piece of rebar for what will be the walls to create the foundation of the new visitors center at Lehigh Portland State Park south of Iola.

After breaking ground in mid-March on a visitors center for Lehigh Portland State Park, crews were eager to hit the ground running.

Their goal, to have the visitors center complete by fall, remains viable, but Mother Nature may have a say in it.

In the 3½ months since construction started, crews have lost 39 work days due to rainy weather.

Despite the delays, the hopes remain in place to have the center finished by fall, reported Lisse Regehr, chief executive officer of Thrive Allen County, which keeps in touch with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and…

Related
August 7, 2026
July 29, 2026
December 24, 2025
May 14, 2025