Eagleeyeimprovements: Tolland park gets renovation help
Jul. 11—"My scoutmaster said the veterans were in need of a project to create a reflective spot for them to meet after they come home from active service and for prior veterans to meet, and a place like that didn't exist," Peck said, adding that he has a close connection to veterans because his two grandfathers served in World War II.
Peck, of Boy Scout Troop 2 in Tolland, started the project in late June, but he began researching and developing plans for the restoration last year.
"I learned a lot about how to plan, renovating a gazebo. The technical side of things, researching how to do this, and coordinating with people who know how to do this," he said.
The renovation includes replacing a rotting and deteriorating cedar roof and adding a new cupola, clearing out poison ivy and shrubs, removing graffiti from inside the gazebo, and sanding and staining the structure. Peck said he hopes to have the project done in a few weeks.
With a $1,500 donation from the town, $250 from the local Lions Club, and a private donation of $100, Peck was able to purchase the supplies to fix up the gazebo. He also set up a GoFundMe account to help offset the cost. He said any extra funds would be donated to the town's Veterans Recognition Commission.
Peck said that before the renovation began, the gazebo was covered by overgrown bushes, so he gathered up his friends, family, and fellow Scouts, clearing the brush and expanding their work beyond the gazebo to landscape other areas of the park, including restoring a bench swing near the gazebo and removing growth near Crandall Pond to create more room for visitors to fish.
It was during the cleanup work at the pond that Peck and his crew found a slithery creature — a copperhead snake that refused to budge.
"I wasn't startled. He wasn't fast," said Peck. "He was warning me that if I tried to remove him or got close, he would attack. I wanted to touch up the work on the fishing area, and I was not able to do that."
It was then that Peck called 911, with Animal Control arriving a half an hour later to relocate the snake.
Veterans Recognition Chairman Perne Maynard said that the gazebo hasn't been renovated in the past 15 years and was in bad shape, making the project a large undertaking for Peck.
"I thought it was very aggressive. For an Eagle Scout, it's pretty big," Maynard said. "It's a great project. I'm glad he's finally getting around to doing it. I'm sure he'll be glad when it's finished."
Peck's mother, Carla Peck, said that the project has been fantastic for her son.
"He's learned landscaping, battled the rain," she said. "He has a good attitude. Doesn't complain. He just wants to do what's next."
Scoutmaster Andy Powell described Peck as a thoughtful, quiet leader.
"Sam has been working hard on this for about a year, and we expect this to be the first of many projects to acknowledge the dedication and sacrifices of the veterans from Tolland," Powell said.
Powell said Peck will be the troop's 80th Eagle Scout once his work is approved and he has a scoutmaster conference and board review.
"The Eagle project is designed to be a real-world example of how to work through the planning, design, fundraising, approval, and implementation of significant effort that will benefit the community," Powell said. "Sam's project has been particularly challenging because he had to work with multiple departments of Tolland's town government to ensure that the finished product would not only enhance the existing structure, but provide 'add-on' opportunities to expand our town's recognition of our veterans."
Peck said his project benefits not only his desire to become an Eagle Scout, but benefits the community at large.
"There's been so many people who've come by saying I'm doing a great job, and they're happy with me," Peck said. "Everybody is involved. This will help the community for years to come, by improving this for people as a public gathering spot. This is a public park, anybody can enjoy this."
