The seeds for low-impact recreational amenities on Lake Panorama’s south shore were planted in April 2019, when Friends of Lake Panorama surveyed LPA members for input on projects to consider. Walking trails and disc golf were projects of interest, with the south shore considered a good location. At the LPA board of directors June 2021 meeting, Friends received permission to develop a recreational concept for the south shore.
At its August 2022 meeting, the board agreed Friends could work on improvements to existing trails on the south shore. Permission also was given to work with the Panorama Community Schools to incorporate a cross-country course into the Lake Panorama trails system.
Good progress is being made. While some preliminary planning took place in fall 2022, most of the effort was put on hold until the rip rap construction was complete in spring 2023, which led to new trail opportunities. People have been walking trails on the south shore for years, but only a few were aware of the existence and availability of the trails.
Now a fenced parking lot is planned, that will allow people to walk through a gate near where the LPA trail system begins and ends. A trailhead sign will include general details about the south shore project, rules, and specific information about the trail options and trail markers, including a map.
Those who do the full loop down to the shoreline and back up through the meadow area to return to the parking lot will have walked two miles. In addition, four places where the riprap contractor widened existing trails to get to the shoreline will be offered as trail options.
People who start at the trailhead and choose the first option will walk just sixth-tenths of a mile. The other three options offer distances of 1.1 mile, 1.6 miles, and 2 miles. This final loop results in walking the same distance as the original loop, but the terrain and views provide a different experience.
Fiberglass trail markers, similar to the blue 911 address markers used in Guthrie County, will be purchased in a brown color. These will be placed at each junction of the trail system, along with arrows and distances back to the trailhead.
The cross country trails begin and end on school property, with all bus and spectator parking and bathroom facilities on school property. For the middle school, a distance of two miles has been mapped. For the high school, the trail is 3.1 miles.
Access to the south shore is near the northeast corner of the school property. The school hired a contractor to clear trees to make that entrance possible. The school also purchased a roller and a landscape rake to pull behind a small utility tractor to smooth out rough areas of the trail; has committed to adding rock and mulch in a few marshy areas; and has committed to keeping the trails mowed and cleared throughout the year.
Greg Randel is director of transportation and oversees grounds at Panorama Community School Distrct. “We have been mowing a trail on school grounds for a long time for the cross country team to practice, and it has been a dream to one day have the entire course here. When LPA started the south shoreline project, I contacted John Rutledge to see if having a portion of our trails on LPA property could be an option. It has taken off since then with a lot of help from LPA, Friends of Lake Panorama and Panorama schools,” Randel says.
Greg Thompson is beginning his 30th year at Panorama Schools this fall. Over the years he has taught many math courses and coached many sports. Since 1998, he has been the head girls track and field coach, and since fall of 1999, the head cross country coach. He and his wife, Kelly, have had a home at Lake Panorama since February 2000.
“It became clear to me about three years ago that using the Panorama West Golf Course area was becoming more difficult each year to manage the cross country course,” Thompson says. “Plus, the traffic associated with hosting races was becoming too large for the area. We received many compliments on the west course, so it was a difficult decision to begin looking for a new course.”
Yet Thompson says the benefits of moving the cross country trail to an area that incorporates both school and LPA property are many.
“It will be easier for spectators to view the race. On the west course, most spectators only had easy access to the start and finish of the race,” he says. “On this new course, there should be many areas of a race that are easily accessible to spectators. Parking also will be easier, since we can use the school parking facilities for team vehicles and for spectators.”
Thompson says it will be much more efficient to set up and manage cross country meets with the proximity to the school and maintenance equipment; and timers and meet managers will have accessibility to the press box, electricity, a sound system and use of the scoreboard and video board.
The starting line for all races will be near the elementary school just behind Little Panther Daycare. From there, the runners will use the Panorama School Elementary Outdoor Classroom area to access the south shore. “Starting here will allow teams to set up and have a home base near the starting line and in an area that doesn't damage the race trails or a golf course,” Thompson says.
Runners will return to school grounds and run south alongside the baseball complex and finish on the home side straight away of the track. “Finishing on the track will allow easy access to the bleachers and bathrooms for both athletes and spectators,” Thompson says. “High school runners will run along the shore and around the prairie space. Junior high runners will run around the prairie space. Only existing trails will be used, and existing wooded areas and natural prairie spaces will be preserved.”
Teams will practice on the course once or twice a week. Two races are scheduled this fall. The first race Sept. 14 will have over 20 schools participating. The second will be the conference tournament Oct. 12. A third meet might happen Oct. 19 and include 20 schools, if the state athletic associations allow Panorama to be a host site for a state qualifying meet.
Thompson says the cooperation between the school, Friends of Lake Panorama and the LPA has been wonderful. “I have been asked many times why I haven't moved to a bigger school,” he says. “The main reason is I love the family atmosphere of a small town community. This experience has been another piece of evidence that living and working in a small town like Panora and Lake Panorama creates a sense of pride and community.”
Thompson says he thinks in the next two to three years, this will be one of the better true cross country courses in the state. “Many of our current races are on golf courses, not through wooded areas and prairies,” he says. “This course allows hikers, walkers and runners to be alongside the lake shore for slightly more than a mile with spectacular views of the lake and the surrounding shores. We will continue to improve the trail system and keep it maintained for everyone to enjoy.”