Ken Harth gets Volunteer Award from Supervisor Arnold

By Judy Arnold,
Marin County Supervisor, 5th District

I am delighted to announce that the 2011 winner of the "Look Who's Getting It Done Award" goes to Kenneth Harth for his incredible volunteer work with Marin County Parks and most recently his work on trails and fire roads in the Indian Valley Preserve.

Ken became a Marin County Parks Environmental Stewardship Program Volunteer for Trails in March 2010. His experience as an engineer and his intimate knowledge of the trails from hiking them since 1976 gave County Parks confidence that he would do a great job. They were correct; Ken has become a truly valuable volunteer.

Ken’s trail work concentrated on trails that were hand dug about 25 to 30 years ago and have received little maintenance since. Ken told me, “For years I have watched these beautiful trails erode and deteriorate to the point of being almost impassable in winter.”

This launched Ken into action. He joined the County’s Environmental Stewardship Program and so far he has: re-excavated and restored over a half mile of trail; eliminated all the seasonally muddy spots on the Schwindt Trail; re-groomed the full length of the Waterfall Trail between the areas he has restored (with only two muddy spot needing restoration/regarding); stabilized and made storm water improvements to the Clark Malone Trail; and stabilized the Witzel Trail (yes this is the Ron Witzel trail that the Board of Supervisors named in Ron’s honor in 2009.

Great volunteers often inspire others, and Ken’s activities have triggered the interest of local Rotaries, the Marin Motorcycle Club as well as many individuals in helping with these trail improvement efforts.

Ken is a former President of the Novato Downtown Busi-ness Association and has given hundreds of hours of volunteer work to the community that he loves. Ken was awarded the Heartwood Volunteer Award from County Parks in 2010 and has previously been awarded Volunteer of the Week by the Marin IJ.

Congratulations Ken on your quiet work of seeing some-thing that needs doing and getting it done. Your efforts to improve and maintain County Open Space through endless hours of hard work and dedication are a benefit to and appreciated by our entire community, which is evident through the “fan club” Ken has developed who leave thank you letters with scores of signatures. Thank you Ken, for all that you do.

About the Look Who’s Getting It Done Award

In 2007 I started the annual Look Who's Getting It Done Award. I make this award every year in January. The award recognizes someone in the 5th District who “got something done” for our community. The winner is featured in my “County Connection” article in the Novato Advance, in my newsletter, and on my County webpage.

If you would like to nominate someone for the 2012 Look Who’s Getting it Done award, please contact my aide Tanya Albert at: TAlbert@marincounty.org