Scout works to upgrade S-Curve Park

A Havre Boy Scout's plans to provide the S-Curve park on 10th Avenue with three outdoor tables, barbecue grills and a new bench for his Eagle Scout project came a big step closer to reality Friday as he and volunteers began pouring concrete for the project.

Nicholas Montagino, 17, of Boy Scout Troop 1438 spent the week out at S-Curve Park by 11th Street near Montana State University-Northern working from about 1 to 7 p.m. on the project each day.

He and volunteers moved dirt in wheel barrels and wetted down the soil where the three platforms that will hold the tables and grills will be located.

A cement mixer was on the scene with one volunteer scooping wet concrete from the mixer and into wheelbarrows later pushed up to the three forms where the concrete was to be laid.

The project consists of three 10-by-10-foot concrete pads, each with a table that seats six people and a barbecue grill. A fourth 12-by-12-foot pad will be located away from the others and be occupied by a concrete bench and two concrete flower pots.

Though the tables still had to be ordered and the grill stands installed, Montagino said, the concrete would be laid by the end of the day Friday.

Montagino, who lives across the street from the park near the Montana State University-Northern campus, said he was doing the project for his Eagle badge and for the community. The city as well as Northern are both "super excited" about it, he said.

He said the project was a lot of work.

Montagino and his volunteers had to dig the four sites where each pad will be. Two-by-fours framed the squares in which rebar was laid.

However, before ground could even be broken, Montagino had to seek out the money, materials and volunteers, he said, adding that people were very willing to contribute.

"I've had people just hand me 50 bucks outright, 100 bucks outright, to help me with the project," Montagino said.

He said that he received help from more than 10 businesses, and other people donated their labor.

Though asking people for money was hard and is something he does not like doing, Montagino said, the actual physical labor is the most difficult part.

In all he said, 20 to 30 volunteers had come out to help him throughout the week with the workers ranging from fellow scouts to adults.

Jeff Dibblee, who attends the Community Alliance Church and has done some construction work for BNSF, said while working on another project at the church, he was approached by Montagino to assist with the Eagle Scout Project.

Montagino said that throughout the process, his plans underwent changes. Initially he planned to put a fire pit by the bench on the larger platform. However the city was reluctant to have something in the park with an open flame. The original plan called for aluminum tables to be installed, but Montagino said the city wanted concrete tables to match the lone concrete bench in the park.

Montagino said he is glad the project is coming to fruition.

"I am just excited to get it done. It just really needs to get done," he said.