Submitted by Zach Crichton

You might have seen some changes down at Jacksons Beach lately. Wondering what’s going on? As part of Friday Harbor High School’s Community Project class, Zach Crichton, Kenny Hallock and Kevin Soto, with a team of mentors and volunteers, have just finished making better wheelchair access at the beach. Chrichton is a wheelchair user and knew from personal experience how difficult it was to park, unload and traverse the path. Soto and Hallock joined him in this project, and together with support from the Port of Friday Harbor, University of Washington Marine Labs, Richard Lawson Construction, Mike Carlson Enterprises, Friday Harbor Electric, Printonyx, San Juan County Public Works and, of course, their families, friends and mentors, they have created dedicated and signed handicapped parking places at the north end of the beach, an unloading zone which connects to a 100-foot compacted gravel path to a view spot, which has driftwood benches for those not in wheelchairs. Along the way, Chrichton researched other beaches on the island and created the logo for Accessibility for All, San Juan Island.

The boys hope many more people will be able to get out and enjoy the beach.

For more information on the project, email zacherycrichton@sjisd.org.