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Asst. Sec. of Parks and Tourism visits Great Bend
hoi kl craighead
This black-crowned night heron spent the early morning hours at Cheyenne Bottoms searching for breakfast. Cheyenne Bottoms is on the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway. - photo by Dan Witt

BARTON COUNTY — Assistant Secretary of Parks and Tourism Linda Craighead was in town last week and met with 20 local leaders from the Economic Development Committee, National Byway Committee, Kansas Wetlands Education Center, Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Friends of Cheyenne Bottoms and other community leaders. Members of the committees live throughout the area.

"I am an honored to be here," Craighead. She wanted to know what the needs of the community are.

Craighead gave a history of her travels and qualifications. She moved around the country, but eventually decided to come back to Kansas and is now advocate for the quality of life in the state.

"Kansas has a wonderful sense of beauty I was blind to as a youth," she said. "One of our biggest challenges is our own perception of ourselves."

She said that tourism is a huge, growing industry and it needs to be promoted beyond the state.

Some concerns the audience had was that Governor Sam Brownback was focused on the Flint Hills Scenic Byway, and that the group would like the governor to come to Great Bend.

Jan Peters, president and CEO of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the work that has already been accomplished in the area. "It’s so visionary," she said. There has been a great amount of cooperation between all of the communities on the Byway. "This group has its act together," she said. "Kansas should be touting this one. We would appreciate more attention to this Byway."

The local Byway is one of two Byways in the nation to offer a GPS tour.

Also the group discussed the perception problem in the eastern portion of the state that not only do they not know where Great Bend is located, but that it is located in western Kansas instead of central.

In addition, Craighead was asked, "What tools are available at the state level that can put this on steroids?"

"I am committed to working with local communities," said Craighead. She brought up signage and how important it is.

One member of the group mentioned rebuilding the infrastructure of trains, so that as the Baby Boomers age, train travel would be a possibility to this area in the next 25 years.

At the end of the meeting, Craighead had some closing thoughts. "I appreciate the candid conversation," said Craighead. "I am very committed to doing what I can to help out. You guys do get it."

"It’s exciting to see the state of Kansas move in the division of nature-based tourism," said Cris Collier, Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau, after the meeting. "Hopefully all of our efforts in that area will dovetail easily into the overall Kansas natured-based infrastructure."

The assistant secretary was invited to speak by Barton County.