Story County Conservation Board Honors Lekwa Family with Access Renaming
Join us as we celebrate National Trails Day on Sunday, June 3 with a re-dedication of the Lekwa Access on the Skunk River Water Trail, south of Story City. Story County Conservation staff will unveil improvements to the area and celebrate with some refreshments at 1:30 p.m.
The Lekwa Access is considered the “birthplace” of the new Skunk River Water Trail. Story County Conservation first received a lease for the nine-acre property in 1995. John and Janis Lekwa renewed the lease for another 10 years in 2006. The small park was originally called the Lekwa Access; however, the name was changed to the E-18 Canoe Access when the roadway bridge was replaced in 2001.
Last fall, a member of the Skunk River Paddlers (SRP) encouraged the Story County Conservation Board to reinstate the original name. In his letter to the board, the member stated that the name change would “best tell the story of the land and recognize the donation that made this access possible. Referring to this access as the Lekwa Access would also acknowledge Steve Lekwa’s support of the Skunk River Paddlers’ many grants and other efforts to make the Story County South Skunk River Water Trail even better when he was director.”
The board passed a resolution renaming the canoe access at its October 2011 meeting, in recognition of the Lekwa family’s contributions to conservation in Story County and the development of the Skunk River Greenbelt and Water Trail.
Steve Lekwa, the former SCC Director, retired in May 2011 after 38 years of service to Story County Conservation.
Today, the South Skunk River Water Trail spans 33 miles in Story County with 11 public access points. The Story County portion of the water trail starts just below the historic Works Project Administration (WPA) bridge in Story City and continues south to the new C.J. Shreck Access on Highway 210.
The Lekwa Access is located at 56156 130th Street in Story City, just west of the Skunk River Bridge on County Highway E-18.
For more information about this or other programs, contact the Story County Conservation Center at 515-232-2516 (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday), conservation@storycounty.com, or visit www.storycountyiowa.gov/conservation.
Story County Conservation manages more than 3,000 acres of parks and natural areas, including lakes, campgrounds, and trails. Story County Conservation's volunteer program provides volunteer opportunities to individuals and groups interested in making a difference in local natural resources. No individual will be excluded from events conducted by Story County Conservation because of a disability or impairment. To request accommodations to participate, contact Story County Conservation.
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CONTACT:
Carol Williams
Story County Conservation
Phone 515-232-2516
FAX 515-232-6989
Email: cwilliams@storycounty.com
www.storycountyiowa.gov/conservation
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