Scout earns Eagle through park restoration project

Reminiscing about playing in Hendrickson Park, Jackson Kennedy thought it would be the perfect place to do his Eagle Scout project.

The 14-year-old Poplar Bluffian asked the Poplar Bluff Parks Department officials for permission and they agreed.

Kennedy and fellow members of Boy Scout Troop 4166 planted trees and shrubs, rebuilt the disc golf serving pad, cleared out a creek, and did a park-wide trash pickup.

“I contacted the Park Department and said I would like to do a project at Hendrickson, what would you want me to do? So that’s really how it got into fruition,” Kennedy said,

The project sponsors are the Doulos class at Fellowship General Baptist Church and Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation. Murray Hammond, Parks and Recreation horticulturist, provided oversight of the project, which was directed by Kennedy.

The Eagle Scout wanted to thank the sponsors and Hammond for their financial assistance and expertise. A plaque has been placed in the park to acknowledge and commemorate the project.

Kennedy said his project was accomplished because of “hard work and determination.”

The younger Kennedy credits his grandfather, Mark Kennedy, with helping him “with just everything from me starting out, getting me to the meetings and helping me with paperwork, and multiple things just to help me get my Eagle.”

His grandmother is Rose Kennedy and his scout leader is Bob Summers.

To attain the Eagle rank, a Scout must earn at least 21 merit badges, fulfill leadership roles and display outdoor skills, demonstrate by example the Scout Oath and Law, and complete a comprehensive service project in the community.

While Eagle Scout is the highest rank for a Boy Scout, the high school freshman said, “I’m going to be active in the scouting as much as I possibly can. I’ll try to help younger kids achieve Eagle, help them with anything they need and be a role model to them.”

Kennedy’s time in high school will be with filled with SHO-ME Marching Band and multiple other things. He’s thinking about running track, swimming and Academic Team, and noted “I’m also in Beta Club.”

Kennedy said, “I was part of the musicology team when we went to Nationals for Junior Beta, and we got second in the whole nation.”