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Friday, May 8, 2009 4:49 PM CDT
Boy Scout helps to beautify Charleston by planting trees
By DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
dfopay@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — Thanks to T. Alex Smith’s wanting to be an Eagle Scout, there are trees growing in some places in the city where none would otherwise have likely been planted.
The 16-year-old Boy Scout took on the planting of 100 trees to meet the requirements for the Eagle Scout designation. After putting a few in the ground earlier this week at the Baker Field sports complex on the north side of the city, he’s done.
“I wanted something significant that would have a lasting effect,” Smith said of his choice for the Eagle Scout project. The project had to represent a civic duty that benefited the community, and the form it took was up to Smith as long as his scout council approved it, which it did.
The effort got the city’s blessing, as well. Curt Devore, the city’s facility maintenance and parks superintendent, said it was “absolutely” true that no trees would have otherwise been planted in many of the places Smith planted them.
“He’s done a great job,” Devore said. “He’s really improved Charleston for years to come. It’s a good effort for the community.”
Smith started about a year ago, raising money and planting his first trees. This week’s planting was the second at Baker Field, and he also planted trees at several city parks and other locations.
He raised money to buy most of the trees, mostly maples but also purchased some tulip and red bud trees. Retired Eastern Illinois University botany professor and noteworthy garden owner Wes Whiteside donated some golden pinnacle rain trees to the effort.
Smith also got help from other scouts, classmates and other students at Charleston High School and others.
“It was slow-going at first but then it picked up and now we’re done,” he said.
Devore said he helped pick some places that needed trees and the city’s parks were “well represented” in being selected for plantings, which also took place along some streets and other places.
Stan Adkins of the city Tree Commission also lent a hand, supervising some of the plantings, helping to fertilize and mulch the newly planted trees and making sure Smith and those helping him followed the city’s tree plan. He said he hopes the city recognizes the effort of Smith and those who also worked on the project.
“It’s a way a civic group can really help the city,” Adkins said. “I’m so proud of these kids to do something like this.”
Smith said he’ll now have to submit an application, letters of recommendation and proof the project is complete for Eagle Scout consideration. He said he thinks he’ll have that done by November, and it shouldn’t be long after that before he knows if he’s successful.
Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 238-6858.
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Kamfong wrote on May 8, 2009 10:59 AM: