By Alexandria T. Montes | Reporter
@Aliroundup2802
Prospecting Eagle Scouts candidates swooped into Clovis to help the city’s Parks Division revamp the Old Town Trails, all the while demonstrating their Scout Spirit.
To reach the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), each candidate must demonstrate Scout Spirit, based upon the Scout Oath and Law, service and leadership through a service project. Only about four percent of all Boy Scouts meet the necessary requirements to become an Eagle Scout, according to the BSA website.
During the winter months, each candidate implemented a plan to develop and carry out a leadership project by restoring a trail and giving it a renewed look. The scouts looked toward the Tom Stearns and Tarpey Village Rest Stop along the Old Town trails and saw the opportunity to beautify both locations.
Carson Gibbons made improvements at Tom Stearns Rest Stop by installing one of the new metal trail map signs in place of the older wooden kiosk. He beautified the rest stop where the trail meets Third Street surrounding “The Walking Doctor” (William C. Pendergrass) statue with fresh paint and several plants, including Day Lilies.
Nick Taylor’s Eagle Scout project was to renovate the Tarpey Village Rest Stop. He too replaced the old wooden kiosk with a new metal trail map sign. There he painted the rest stop and drinking fountain, as well as undertaking some maintenance work. Both boys finished making the trail look lively in time for spring.
Another Eagle Scout project organized by the Parks Division was completed by recipient Mark Iknoian. Liberty Park, between the San Joaquin College of Law and the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building, was given a new cleansed and brighter look. Iknoian painted, removed and cleaned several of the light bollards at the park and also replaced all the park’s light bulbs.
University High School student Jack Luong, who is also elected to earn his Eagle Scout badge, worked at the Hallowell Station Rest Stop along the Old Town Trail located adjacent to Sierra Vista Mall. Jack and his team gave the park a makeover by painting the rest stop and adding to its scenery. These refurbishments encompassed a trail map sign and planting Rhaphiolepis and Pink Muhly grass plants to both sides of the rest stop’s walkway.
City of Clovis Parks Manager Eric Aller said in the near future the community can look forward to seeing more contributions from Eagle Scout projects.
“The entire fence [along Armstrong Avenue between Bullard and Shaw] was painted in 2014 as a part of volunteer project,” Aller said. “Since that time several sections of the fence have been replaced, and these sections are in need of painting.”
Painting newer sections of this fence is only one of the many ways the Eagle Scouts will continue to contribute to the community.