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09/16/2009: "Just Do It!"

(Nick Gervasi -SJC photo)

Due to the county budget crunch, worthwhile projects are once again being started and completed in the county with the help of volunteerism. A recent example of how things used to get done in San Juan County can be found at Blackie Brady County Park on the south end of Lopez.

The park now has a new set of stairs to a small pocket beach, and it came to be without going through budgeting, long range planning and the tax paying process of government oversight and action.


The park is simply a county road end that leads to a postcard pretty beach, but existing access down the steep bank was closed off by the County for several years because a portion of the stairs had been storm damaged, and not repaired by the County due to funding priorities.

San Juan County Park Commission member Carl Jones and volunteer Nick Gervasi, finally said “enough is enough,” and in a manner once the norm, decided to just do what needed to be done.

First things first: a permit was required. Mr. Gervasi prepared the required drawings, and with an out-of-pocket donation Mr. Jones paid the permit fee and submitted the permit application. While the permit was being process Jones made sure the Parks Commission gave their formal approval, organized volunteer labor, obtained the funding for materials; and with the other volunteers helped to move the stairs from concept to reality.

A lesson for us all on community and government.