Eagle scout completes community service project

Eagle Scout John Scheda on one of the benches he built as his Eagle project.

Eagle scout completes community
service project

In July 2004, Life Scout John Scheda, Troop 111, Brockport, noticed where his brothers played baseball in Sweden Town Park, there was not enough seating for all the players on a team. He decided that his Eagle Scout project should be to construct additional benches for the park.

In September he presented his plan to construct enough benches so that each field would have two benches per team. The Sweden Town Board approved his proposal on the condition that he raise the money to fund the project. Danielle Windus-Cook suggested that local businesses might be interested in "sponsoring" benches at the field.

Scheda used CAD software to design the bench and make a bill of materials. He solicited quotes from building material suppliers. He conducted a mail, telephone and in-person campaign to show his plan to about 50 businesses around Brockport. Several businesses, including: Arjuna Florist, Collectors Choice, Domino's Pizza, Lift Bridge Books, Sara's Garden Center, Bittersweet, Danielle Windus-Cook Properties, Ryan's Big M and Seaward Candies contributed to the project.
Several of Scheda's extended family members sponsored benches, and by the end of 2004 he had the money needed to start construction. Chase Pitkin supported the project with favorable pricing on materials.

Scouts and Leaders from Troop 111, and a number of helpful friends and family convened at the Scheda workshop to cut, drill, sand, assemble, prime and paint. In total, 35 people volunteered more than 200 hours of their time and skills. As a final touch, he affixed a plaque to each bench acknowledging the support of each sponsor. On May 27, in time for the season opener, Scheda and his family delivered the benches and placed them at the diamonds. A meeting between Scheda and Fred Perrine of the town highway department resulted in official approval of the project's completion.

On June 28, accompanied by his Cub Scout Den Leader Anita Mault, Scheda received the rank of Eagle. A Court of Honor will be held in Brockport on October 30.