August 8, 2007

Joshua Lago of Hood River Lions Troop 282 recently completed his Eagle Project: the new benches that now grace Jackson Park.

When trying to decide what he should do to benefit the community he decided to look at the local parks.

At Jackson Park he noticed that parents had nowhere to sit while watching their children play on the playground equipment. So Lago talked to Dave Bick at the City of Hood River and received permission to install benches in and around the playground.

Lago spent the next couple of months designing the benches and talking to local business for donations.

“Everyone I talked to was very helpful and generous. Tum-A-Lum Lumber donated a large portion of the materials needed for the project; they were great to work with. I also received donations from Bell Design Company, Your Rental & Party Center, Morgan Paint and Print It/Sign Media.

“The Public Works Crew was also a lot of help. They dug the holes and poured the concrete footings that were needed to set the benches in place.”

The other boys in Lago’s troop spent a couple weekends out at his grandfather’s wood shop in Parkdale helping Lago make the benches that were finally bolted into place at Jackson Park in late June.