Nestled at the top of a sharp 100-yard incline is E.B. Roe Park. A small sign, on Boulevard in Cornwall-on-Hudson, indicates where the trail begins, but the park isn’t one of the more well-known in Cornwall. Boy Scout Michael Miller hopes to change that with his Eagle Scout project. A light rain began to fall, Tuesday morning, as Miller and three friends broke ground on the project.
“The trail right now is very broken down and needs to be rebuilt to allow access to the park,” Miller said. “I want the community to be able to go back up there because it’s a great view.”
Miller’s parents signed him up for Tiger Cubs back when he was in first grade. Some of his friends had also joined, so scouting was an immediate hit with the youngster. As Miller got older he saw all but one friend drop out, but now the two share a role as assistant senior patrol leaders, passing on their knowledge of scouting. Over time, Miller began to understand the responsibility that comes with being a Boy Scout and how it can prepare him for the adult world.
One activity which particularly attracted Miller was camping.
“There are different things you can do in the woods that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do in town.”
Miller started planning his project in December. He received permission from his scoutmaster, district board, and the project’s beneficiary, Mayor Brendan Coyne.
“He really likes it because he’d like to see the park get used again,” Miller said of the mayor. “He had heard of the park, but had never made his way up there.”
The project entails raking the path clear of leaves and debris and laying down flat rocks to be used as steps up the incline. Overgrowth on either side of the trail will also be cleared. Black piping will be hammered into the ground and connected by rope to be used as a guardrail for safety. At the top of the park, two new rustic benches will be installed. Attached to the rock at the top of the incline is a rusted sign for the park, which Miller estimates dates back to the 1890s. A smaller sign is located at the base of the trail, but a new sign will also be erected and placed on Boulevard.
One of the more difficult aspects of the project to date was seeking out donations. John Brady, manager of Black Rock Forest, will be donating the stone steps. Ed Broker, who works for Balfour Beatty Communities, donated the black pipe and tees for the handrails while Brett’s True Value donated the cement to secure the black pipe into the ground.
Miller worked on the project throughout spring break and will continue on weekends until completion some time in July.
The Eagle hopeful looks forward to earning the highest rank in Scouting some time in September or October, but he didn’t initially feel that way about the project.
“At first I thought it was just hard work, a stepping stone to get to Eagle. But eventually I’m beginning to realize it’s really supposed to center you on what Boy Scouts is – community helping.”
Until he goes away to college, Miller plans to stick with Scouting as a junior assistant scoutmaster with aspirations of one day becoming an adult leader.
Miller said he would definitely introduce his future kids to the world of Scouting.
