By TOM KELLY
Editor and Publisher

Older-timers around Winnfield and North Louisiana remember when a summer picnic to Gum Springs in the Kisatchie National Forest west of Winnfield could include a splash for kids and adults in the waters from natural springs at the bottom of a steep, forested ravine. Sometimes during the 1960s, the recreation area was neglected, the pool became unswimmable, and the fun became mostly memory.

That neglect is changing, as the Kisatchie continues a major upgrade of its public recreational facilities. The newest project is a complete from-the-ground-up rehabilitation of the Gum Springs pool area, which will be expanded to an 11-acre lake with camping, picnic, bath houses, and modern facilities - at an estimated outlay of $3.4 million.

Winn District Ranger Frank Yerby laid out the plans at a Winn Chamber of Commerce "Business After Hours" get-together at the Winn Medical Center board room in Winnfield on March 25.

Yerby told Chamber members and guests that the environmental impact study has been completed, and the engineering design phase is in progress now, at an estimated cost of $901,200.

The plan calls for reconstruction of the half-acre historic swimming area to its original shape, and construction of an 11-acre reservoir by adding a dam downstream from the original swimming area, Yerby said. (See map, Page One).

A supplemental water well will be drilled to improve water flow and maintain water quality required to meet regulations for swimming. Yerby said the steep hills which surround the original swimming area and proposed new lake do not afford enough watershed acreage to fill the lake.

Other facility upgrades will include water and electrical hookups at each camp site, sewage treatment facilities, construction of two pavilions, two bath houses with warm water, and interpretive trails and landscaping along the historic terraces and the day use are, using native plant species.

The District Ranger said he is hopeful the project can be complete within two to three years.

In order of priority, the project, and estimated costs, are stated as: (1) shared utility and infrastructure, $787,800; (2) camping area, $577,200; (3) historic swimming area, $484,520; (4) day-use area, $869,000; reservoir and boat launch, $714,961. Total estimated project cost, $3,434,081.

During the Chamber "Business After Hours" meeting, board member Larry Price presented Winn Medical Center Bobby Parker a certificate of recognition for work in the recent expansion of emergency room facilities.

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