LAKE ASBURY — The "Ship of Theseus" is a famous historical thought experiment: if a wooden ship removed each of its wooden boards one by one and replaced each with an identical board (same size, same shape) in its place, would it still be the same ship?  

Is an object the sum of its parts? Or is an object a symbol for what its parts represent?  

Construction is ongoing at Ronnie Van Zant Memorial Park, which is fully replacing the wooden beams along the five fishing docks while maintaining the foundational pieces.  

"All new framing, sub-framing, new decking and new handrails. The only remaining original things are the poles," Tyler Giebeig said.

"We're making it all new. The old was rotting out and getting washed away. We're going to make it level around the pond and make it easier to walk around," he said. 

Ronnie Van Zant Memorial Park was built and named in honor of its namesake, the lead vocalist of Clay County's Southern rock band sensation Lynyrd Skynyrd, who died along with other band members and crew in a 1977 plane crash.  The band’s chartered Convair plane ran out of fuel near the end of the flight from Greenville, South Carolina, on the way to a gig in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The 90-acre memorial park was established in honor of one of the county's most prominent artists. It won first place in the Best Places for Kids to Have Fun category of the Clay Today 2023 Best of Clay.

Tyler owns Brothers Marine Construction with his brother Kyle Giebeig. Kyle "runs the crews," and Tyler "pushes the paper." The company was once involved with restoring the Governor's Creek Boat Ramp.

The $577,000 project at Ronnie Van Zant is the brothers' biggest yet, Tyler said. The docks will be replaced with new boards, but the bulkhead, which will reinforce the circumference of the pond, is certainly a new feature. The bulkhead will prevent overflowing and erosion, making the trail surrounding the pond safer to walk around. 

Tyler walked around the pond's circumference on a warm, sunny morning, awakening the flock of ducks asleep on the shoreline. The startled fowl fluttered into the pond as he passed. A resident comes out most mornings to the pavilion that overlooks the pond. The flock of ducks gather around the resident's feet, awaiting their breakfast of breadcrumbs. Tyler appeared glad. Not that he said he disdained the ducks outright, but it appeared he preferred them out of the way while the bulkhead was being constructed.  

The company has been at work for three weeks. The deadline is Sept. 30, and Tyler is confident he'll make it with time to spare. 

Gene Price is the building facilities manager. He oversees maintenance, public safety and various construction projects in Clay County. He's excited about the new ecological improvements to the pond (which currently does not have an official name. It has been dubbed "Clay County Pond  No. 067" by a street sign). 

Price said the bulkhead will help stabilize the pond from some watershed issues. The bulkhead will act as a fortification, preventing water from overflowing and the shoreline from eroding. 

Price said the park is a great spot for "citizens to go out and enjoy the outdoors." The pond is one of the defining natural features of the park, especially the circular island — an emerald eye of shrubbery and pine trees. The pond itself is managed by the Florida Wildlife Commission. 

Ronnie Van Zant Memorial Park is a debatable tribute to debatably the county's most influential musician. 

"Ship of Theseus" is a label used to describe Lynyrd Skynyrd in the modern day. Lynyrd Skynyrd has released nine original albums since reforming in 1987. More importantly, the current group has kept the music alive.

Still, for the park, residents (and ducks) should expect the same pond they're used to. The bulkhead will alter the shoreline to preserve the pond. The five fishing docks will be returned refurbished on Sept. 30 at the latest. 

"New lumber, new framing, new deck. But no more splinters for the kids out, either," Tyler said.