By Nance Ebert, Contributing Writer
Photo/submitted
Southborough- Colin Kerrigan worked through some unexpected challenges while completing his Eagle Scout project of installing a manually operated scoreboard at George Mooney Park.
“I wanted to do something for Southborough Little League where I played ball from first grade through eighth grade. The dugouts needed roofs and there was no scoreboard in place. When I e-mailed Southborough Little League some ideas, a plan was set in motion. I met with Chris Shea, a Committee Member and Little League Coach and Larry Branson, the Construction Supervisor. Approvals needed to be secured by the Recreation Department, Southborough Board of Selectmen and the Building Department. With the help of other scouts and leaders from Troop #92, digging for the footings for the sign posts began until we hit a layer of concrete that delayed my project further,” said Kerrigan.
Although it was discovered, after talking with the Department of Public Works, that the concrete was, most likely, remnants from a house or shed structure, the group got the go ahead to continue digging. This was an incredibly labor intensive endeavor.
“The last foot took us probably four hours,” said Kerrigan.
The sign installation and platform were completed the last weekend in October, just in time for Colin’s 18th birthday. He noted that he was proud of the way everything turned out and he thinks that it will be nice for the attendees and parents to have a scoreboard to view easily.
There were two fundraising efforts that Colin participated in to raise money for supplies. The first was where he helped run an event at the Scandinavian Athletic Club where, each year, they host an annual Swedish Midsummer Festival. Kerrigan, along with others from his troop, worked the event and sold tickets and parked cars.
“We raised almost two hundred dollars towards materials that day. We also held a clothing drive where we gathered almost 1,500 pounds of donated clothing for Savers. We made over $500 doing that,” said Kerrigan.
One of the things that surprised Kerrigan the most, he said, was the complexity of designing, implementing and getting all of the appropriate approvals for executing this Eagle Scout project. He didn’t realize that there might be unforeseen snags along the way and time was of the essence. In the end, it all worked out and he is quite proud of all that he and other members of his troop accomplished.
“I could not have done this without the help of so many others, including George Harris and Larry Branson. They really helped me along the way and I am very grateful,” said Kerrigan.
As a senior in high school, Colin is enjoying his last year before heading off to college in the fall. He hopes to go somewhere new where he can explore an unfamiliar city or town and study engineering.
