Smith builds bridge at Legacy for Eagle

For his Eagle Scout project, Cayman Smith built a bridge at Legacy Elementary School. CONTRIBUTED

MONROVIA – Sports teams and their spectators at Legacy Elementary School have a better path because of Cayman Smith’s project to earn his Eagle Scout rank.

Smith, who’s almost 16, built a bridge that is 60 feet long to span a drainage ditch. The bridge gives access for youngsters and their families to the Matt Dahl Memorial Ball Field on Legacy’s campus.

Smith’s project is the largest undertaking for an Eagle Scout project that a Scout in Troop 94 has ever completed. A ribbon cutting was held at the Monrovia campus for the bridge on May 13.

On May 10, the Eagle Board of Review approved Smith’s project for consideration by the National Council, which will issue its final decision probably in June. After this lengthy review process, only four percent of Boy Scouts are granted Eagle rank.

“Cayman’s project is complete and all required merit badges over the last four years have been achieved,” Cayman’s father Parker Smith said.

Semper Fi Community Task Force donated all materials for Cayman’s project. Home Depot also contributed supplies for the building project, along with three workers for one day and gave discounts for materials. “They brought an auger and dug all 22 of the post holes and set the posts in concrete,” Parker said.

In addition, Phil Vandiver, Madison County Commissioner for District 4, arranged for his district to donate the dirt for the ramps and manpower from the county to spread the dirt.

“Cayman organized and oversaw all the work, as well as completed a large percentage of the construction himself,” Parker said. “Cayman was recently elected by Troop 94 as their Senior Patrol Leader and is the Scout in Charge.”

Work for Cayman’s project started during the first week of December 2015 and was completed on March 27, 2016 when the sod was laid in place. “The grass has greened up now and looks great,” Parker said.