There’s something to be said for citizen action. Problem is most areas don’t see it often enough.

Walk along Water Avenue in the direction of the St. James Hotel and take a look to your left and you’ll witness for yourself the action of some women who saw something wrong and took action.

About a year ago, an organized effort to take the vacant lot across Water Avenue from the St. James Hotel failed because of bureaucratic red tape and a slow-acting Selma City Council, which preferred question and debate to action.

Now, fast-forward to about a month ago. Nancy Smith visited a park in Prattville. She asked if Prattville could have this, why couldn’t Selma?

Smith went to Charlotte Griffeth, the director of the city Community Development Department. Karen Weir, another community action-taker, was in the office. The three women began talking about the possibilities of a park. Mayor George Evans walked into Griffeth’s office and they shared their idea with him.

Evans said, “Do it.”

Instead of waiting and wondering what to do, the women began planning the park, getting donations for the park and then presented their idea to the city council.

By the way, the council approved the project with no quarrel.

Phoenix Park is rising from the rubble of an old building that fell to the ground several years ago, thanks to these women and others who have contributed to the project.

Who says the days of citizen action are over? Not these women.