Could they help with cabins at county lake?
Managing editor
Even though Kansas Wildscape Foundation is not taking any more applications, of sorts, for new cabins, building cabins at Marion County Park and Lake or Marion Reservoir is not necessarily out of the question.
Charlie Black, executive director of the foundation, told Marion Chamber of Commerce members Friday that funding had been raised to pay for 160 cabins around the state on state-owned property. Close locales include El Dorado State Park and Kanopolis State Park in McPherson County, he said.
When asked if such a project could be feasible at one of the local lakes, Black said the foundation was “open to anything.”
“If cabins are planned at county lakes, we would look at local contractors and labor,” Black said.
About the foundation
Kansas Wildscape Foundation was created to solve the problem of too few acres of public land available for families, particularly youth, to experience the outdoors.
Through various youth programs, the foundation partners with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for projects, with the development of cabins being popular and well received.
Cabin projects
When the program began, cabin kits were used. Currently, the foundation and KDWP use labor provided by correctional facilities.
Inmates at facilities in Ellsworth, Norton, and Hutchinson have been used as part of a training program that benefits inmates and the state, Black said.
Modern, comfortable cabins with most amenities such as electricity, heat, air conditioning, running water, and handicapped accessibility are built at the correctional facilities and then moved to designated state parks.
“Inmates take a great deal of pride in their work,” Black said, with many staying in the cabins they helped to build when they are released from prison.
The $6 million project provides quality cabins that should last 20-30 years, Black said.
When the cabins are paid for, the state becomes owners of them on the state properties.
Logbooks are available in the cabins for visitors to write about their experiences.
“We don’t have any problems with vandals,” Black said, because those who use them take care of them.
The average cost per night is $65-80.
“This is private money,” Black said. “No tax dollars are used for this project.”
“This is a win-win project for the state, residents, and inmates,” Black said.
Even though past projects have only been on state-owned lakes, there might be consideration for other projects.
“We could consider county-owned or federal lakes,” Black said.