Volunteer Spotlight, Jim Arnold and Richard Phillips
Jim Arnold and Richard Phillips
Highlands Hammock State Park
In their 11 years at Highlands Hammock State Park, Richard Phillips has earned a total of 6,426 hours and Jim Arnold has accumulated 4,344. They are two skilled, reliable and hardworking volunteers. Down-to-earth, no-nonsense Midwesterners who worked construction for many years, Richard makes the annual trek from Michigan and Jim arrives from Ohio.
Although they like to escape cold weather, they enjoy staying busy and thrive on working outdoors. As former road construction workers, they are highly detailed with respect to project outcomes and “work being done right.” These two skilled tractor drivers and heavy equipment operators are also masters using chainsaws. They enjoy assisting with visitor services transporting visitors at park concerts and other events.
Richard and Jim undertook a special project that had enormous impact on park operations and continues to make an impact today. Over three months, they methodically worked their way from the rear of the maintenance shop to the front entrance, cleaning up and organizing the entire maintenance area. A substantial amount of work required removing unneeded objects and materials from those needed for current projects, while also taking care to find and preserve historic objects from the park’s past. Equipment was consolidated and arranged for accessibility by staff and volunteers.
These gentlemen worked with diligence and care on each object uncovered. In the end, the park has a maintenance shop compound that is well organized and user friendly. As this project was winding down, Richard and Jim took on another daunting project involving tree removal.
Park staff member and retired forester Mike Sawyer had identified the dead, dying or dangerous trees posing a serious hazard to campers and to visitors walking trails. Richard and Jim began removing trees working independently and/or with staff and two other shop volunteers. This labor-intensive project involved large tractor and dump truck operation, heavy chainsaw work, and the loading and removal of logs, branches and organic debris to the maintenance shop or the burn pile.
Within two weeks, the group removed over 100 trees and contributed a total of 130 hours to complete the work. Had this work been contracted with a tree removal company, the cost would have been considerable. It is estimated that the park was able to save $200,000 due to their efforts. Richard Phillips and Jim Arnold are volunteers who truly exemplify the words “And then some!”