Help wanted: The Friends of V.I. National Park needs volunteers to build a 700-foot handicapped-accessible boardwalk at the park’s Francis Bay.
The job starts Wednesday and last about a week, but Friends President Joe Kessler said that even if you can only come for a half day, your efforts will be appreciated.
"Carpenters, people with construction sense, handymen, handywomen," Kessler said.
And even if you’re not particularly skilled in those areas, the Friends will find a job for you, Kessler said.
According to Kessler, this is a perfect opportunity to give back to the community if you’re one of the many St. John carpenters currently between jobs.
The work day will start at 8 a.m., with the day wrapping up in the late afternoon.
Kessler said St. John contractor Dave Thompson will lead the volunteer work crew.
The project got help from MSI Building Supplies on St. Thomas, which donated the lumber. Kessler said Maho Bay Camps provided financial support and the park installed footings and will provide fasteners.
The Francis Bay project is the first of two accessible trails planned for the park. Kessler said Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail is also on the agenda, but the Friends have to raise the money for it first.
The accessible trails project is an offshoot of a Building a Destination for All 2005 symposium. Spearheaded by Maho Bay Camps owner Stanley Selengut, the Rhode Island-based Multi, Design for People brought down four wheelchair-bound people and their caregivers to evaluate how the park did when it came to access.
"We started thinking about how to make St. John more welcoming to people with mobility issues," Kessler said.
Only two trails were possible candidates, Francis and Cinnamon Bay, because they were relatively flat, Kessler said. While the Francis Bay trail will be wood, Kessler said the Cinnamon Bay loop trail will be made of concrete because it will blend in better with the environment.
Kessler requested that volunteers call the Friends office to sign up so he knows how many people will be available. Call 779-4940.
