To the editor:

I hope everyone recognizes what a green and blue gem Lawrence has at Clinton Lake – in both the Army Corps of Engineers’ Overlook Park and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ state park.

My running club, the Lawrence Trail Hawks, puts on nearly all its races there. This month, we ran our third annual 5K trail run and our first-ever 100-mile trail run on those beautiful trails. Both were huge fun. Neither would have been possible without the people, volunteer and official, who keep the parks operating.

They fit us in amid all the many campers and countless other events, from the Ironman competitions to the dog trials to the bike races. They did it gracefully and efficiently.

I particularly want to thank state park ranger Bruce Husman who got the illegal bow hunter off the course during the Hawk Hundred. Park director Jerry Schecher, administrative specialist Sherri Withers and ranger Dave Rhoads at the Corps of Engineers have always gone out of their ways to help our group, and everyone else have the greatest experience in these beautiful parks.

Everyone who’s hiked or biked the Clinton Lake trails owes a debt to Mike Goodwin, Kansas Trails Council, who almost single-handedly keeps the nearly 23 miles of trails cleared of overgrowth and fallen timber.

Whether or not you’ve experienced these fabulous parks, I urge you to visit now. As we proceed into some of the year’s best weather, you’ll be in for a treat.