Another Eagle Scout Project Benefits McCoy Creek Trail
by Rebecka Hoyt, Editor and Photographer
Boy Scout Brendan Coger from Troop #541, has added a stairway project down towards the Blumka Bridge for his Eagle Scout Project. During the late morning of Saturday, December 19, 2021 I met him along with his troop and leaders. This project is ongoing, a combined effort with his troop as earlier in the year, another Eagle Scout completed a steep staircase down to the bridge.
Brendan has gained much knowledge in the area of leadership while putting the project together and completing it. He received $500 in donation from the McCoy Creek Trail, $200 was leftover from the spring project. He also received donations and 20% off supplies from Lowes. When asked what was the hardest part of the project, Brendan said, “Getting started was the hardest part. Quite a bit of the troop volunteered at the Niles Scream Park this fall and you’re dealing with other schedules.” Doing this project in the late fall wasn’t as easy as the previous project in the spring was. “You had cold, sleet and it was raining,” said Brendan.
Blumka Bridge is named after the Scoutmaster of the troop, Bill Blumka. If you went to Trek-or-Treat, and saw The Buchanan Chronicle hand out candy by the BHS MegaHurtz team, the staircase is just a little bit north from there. You can park in the E.B. Clark Woods parking lot off from Schirmer Parkway. There are plans for a boardwalk to connect the staircase to the bridge in the springtime. This trail is part of the big future plan of connecting trails from the McCoy Creek Trail to the Niles Trail/Berrien Springs/South Haven areas.
The Buchanan Chronicle would like to thank Brendan and his troop for making this area of the trail more accessible for our community! We will be sure to continue covering this project until it is completed.
About Buchanan BSA: Buchanan Boy Scout Troop 541 is in the Algonquian District, which is part of the LaSalle Council, Boy Scouts of America and supports local scouting units (Packs, Troops and Crews) in Southwestern Michigan and Northern Indiana.
Troop 541 Facebook Page
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