Island Center Forest is, as equestrian Stephen Holtz noted in this week’s issue, a jewel — a remarkable expanse of woods, wetlands, streams and trails open to the public year-round.

For years, it was owned by the state Department of Natural Resources and was logged as a source of revenue. Today, it stands as a testament to the role a cadre of community activists can play — first, in having the vision to see it permanently protected as a park and preserve and now working collaboratively to manage it in a way that honors the diverse interests of Islanders who spend time there.

It’s also a testament to the increasing creativity of King County, struggling to find a way to protect public assets at a time of diminishing financial resources. The county is relinquishing some managerial control of Island Center Forest, which it owns, in exchange for something else it values — the sweat and commitment of Islanders who care enough about the forest to act as its stewards.

Equestrians maintain trails. Vashon’s Forest Stewards are helping to restore parts of the forest that were hard-hit from years of logging. And some, like Holtz, have been formally deputized as Island Center Forest “ambassadors.” Last week, with newly minted maps in his pocket and sporting a badge noting his ambassadorial role, he stopped his horseback ride to offer up trail guides to those he saw in the woods.

Holtz noted that he’s now a part of the King County diplomatic corps, an oxymoron on Vashon, he joked, where it’s a sport to criticize a government that can seem distant or out of touch. That certainly wouldn’t be fair in this case — an example of the county working hard to do right by Islanders, deferring to us and our interests as it gradually puts in place some needed infrastructure.

The result is a mix of projects:

A huge parking lot — far too big to those who believe in low-impact recreation, but just right for the equestrians who drive trucks with trailers attached. Interpretative signs handsomely illustrated by Islander Sandra Noel — unnecessary to some, a source of information to others. An outdoor classroom — a luxury in some people’s eyes, a fantastic amenity to others.

Regardless of one’s position, the outcome of this remarkable collaboration is a plus for Vashon. Thanks to the investment of the county and the hard work of dozens of Vashon residents, Island Center Forest is now healthier, more ecologically dynamic and more accessible.

Check it out. And if you see Stephen Holtz somewhere among the maze of trails, be sure to ask him for a map.