• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Scout project brings new life to Janesville's Riverside Park

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Tristan Gardner of Boy Scout Troop 539 is trying to make major improvements to a playground near the wading pool at Riverside Park, and is nearly on schedule despite being rained out twice during the project.

JANESVILLE — Janesville families will soon have another reason to visit scenic Riverside Park.

The playground, next to the park's recently reopened wading pool, is being rebuilt. Work that started Friday, Aug. 7, will resume Friday, Aug. 14, once the saturated ground is dry again. The playground is scheduled to be finished Monday, Aug. 17.

In addition to the original equipment--tire swing and three sand toys that have been cleaned and will be re-installed—there is a new three-seat swing and three truckloads of fresh sand that will replace the once flooded and saturated ground. Three new park benches also have been added and five hardwood trees planted.

Taking the lead on the project was Boy Scout Tristan Gardner, 17, of Janesville, who worked closely with Tom Presny, city parks director.

Gardner considered several projects, in efforts to earn Eagle Scout status, but explained why he chose this one.

"When I was much younger, I used to play in a lot of the city parks," he said.

Even though he didn't frequent Riverside Park as much as the other parks, Gardner still believed redoing the playground was a good idea after visiting the site.

"It's such a pretty area, especially for families, so seemed at the top of the list in terms of priorities," he said.

After months of planning, Tristan and a group of volunteers—fellow Scouts and leaders from Troop 539's St. William Parish plus relatives—endured the heat, humidity Friday before the storms came rumbling through.

"We had a great morning and a lot of the work has already been done," Tristan said.

Although they had planned to finish over the weekend, thunderstorms flooded the playground area. Tristan said he hopes to finish by Aug. 17.

Providing manpower to the project was Tristan's uncle James Gardner and grandfather Richard Gardner, both Eagle Scouts.

"My grandpa always helped and supported my dad and uncle through their Eagle Scout projects and thought is was one of the best things they did. So he was ready to be there for me for this. I think that's why they're putting the time in," he said.

Dan Gardner always has hoped his son would achieve Eagle Scout status, but isn't able to help with the project due to military commitments.

Yet, "he has done everything possible to help me along the way," Tristan said.

Most of the project materials for the playground were provided by the city, Tristan said.

Knowing the wading pool was going to re-open in July, motivated Tristan.

"I talked to some friends from the generation before mine and they told about how awesome the park was when they were kids, then how the pool disappeared and the park went downhill."

With the wading pool and playground restored, he said, "the park will be renewed and as nice as before."