The city has endorsed yet another Eagle Scout project that will enhance the city park system.
This latest one will create a dog run and exercise compound in the southeast section of the park.
Boy Scout Dylan Patton, Troop 443, Gray Summit, presented plans for his Eagle Scout project to aldermen at the May 1 board meeting.
Cost to erect a 5-foot chain-link fence around a rectangular compound would be about $4,000, Dylan said. His role in the project is to gain the correct approvals, raise funds for the compound and oversee the construction.
The compound will be located behind the tennis courts on the lower area toward the creek.
Although the fenced area will not contain some of the exercise elements found in other dog runs that he researched, the prospective Eagle Scout said he believes his project will be a good start.
“The idea was brought to me by a park board member,” Dylan said. “I think this would benefit the community.”
Stephen Flannery III, park board president, joined Dylan at the podium, saying the park board had voted unanimously to support the project.
Flannery said people are now letting their dogs run on leashes in the park.
“When he came to the park board looking for a project we thought about a dog park,” Flannery said. “Throughout the area there are dog parks — one near St Louis University and one in the Shaw neighborhood. Kirkwood also just put one in.”
The concept is to create a place where people can allow dogs to run, he said.
In the proposed Pacific park, large dogs would be on one side and small dogs on the other. Owners would be required to pick up after dogs and would not be allowed to leave dogs unattended.
“We think most people will be responsible,” Flannery said.
Mayor Herb Adams questioned Dylan on what it would take to create a more ideal dog run.
“It could cost $1,000 more to put in the exercise items,” Dylan said.
Adams noted that the city has partnered with other Eagle Scouts in previous projects that improved the park system and suggested to aldermen that the city should help Dylan do more than erect a chain-link fence.
On a motion by Alderman Ed Gass, the board voted to assist with the program not to exceed $3,000.
Dylan has until his 18th birthday next February to complete the project. His priority now is fundraising, he said.
In other Eagle Scout projects, signs were erected at city park playing fields naming them for athletes, a walking trail around the city park fishing pond, a replica Civil War cannon on the bluff in Blackburn Park and a flagpole at the entrance to PYA ball fields were all completed.
Donations for the project can be made to Dylan Patton, 636-584-9896.
