This week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced that the state will extend its “donor agreement” to keep open the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

At $7,000 a day, Morrisey is likely correct that such a decision is worth the money, given the consequences if New River was to be closed for Bridge Day, or visitors were disappointed when they tried to visit our parks during what should be peak leaf-viewing season.

“The political gridlock in Washington, it’s hurting a lot of people, but we took swift action in one area where we felt we could mitigate the effects of the shutdown, and that’s protecting our beautiful national parks,” Morrisey said. It is encouraging to see Morrisey’s administration understand how heavily West Virginia’s economic wellbeing rests on federal entities and programs. He is spot on that the inability of ALL members of Congress to do their jobs and work toward a compromise that will end this stalemate is “hurting a lot of people.”

But what Morrisey has proved — and legislators must realize — is that state government is capable of pinpointing federal action (or inaction) that affects residents and quickly moving to do something about it.

To that end, it will be important for them, as the federal shutdown stretches on, to look at other ways the state can take action to avoid too much damage being done to Mountain State residents.

It’s possible. Morrisey just showed us how.

Now lawmakers and other state officials must not fail to swing at the pitch Morrisey just lobbed to them.