Neary-Sighted

There is a lot of energy going into discussions aimed at focusing development into Tillicum and making it a better place to live and work. You can get updated on those efforts through Dan Voelpel's column , and more info should be posted soon on the city Web site.

One of the ideas the community came up with is, no surprise, tying the design of Tillicum to what's going on with its neighbor, Fort Lewis. So it's good news that a Lakewood youth is putting together a project that would help the base and its families. Here's some info from the family:

Lakewood Boy Scouts rebuilding and upgrading military picnic area

On Saturday, March 24, a team of Lakewood Boy Scout troops are descending on a picnic area in the Lake Lewis area on Fort Lewis to repair and upgrade the family picnic area set aside for military families. This repair and upgrade project is an Eagle Project for Wyatt B. Larsen, a boy scout with BSA Troop 51, St. Mary’s Church, Lakewood.

This Lake Lewis picnic area has fallen under disrepair leaving just stubs of concrete in the picnic area. “I was surprised it was called a picnic area,” said Larsen. “With just a little bit of work, we could really turn it around and provide a great place for our military families to enjoy.”

Picnic table bases were constructed many, many years ago using concrete bases with wood plank tops. The planks had deteriorated and rotted over the last 10 years (as you can see from the photo above - the concrete is there, but there's nothing to sit or put food on). Larsen met with his BSA Troop 51 leadership and the area Eagle advisor, Dawn Golden, to complete this project as part of his advancement to Eagle Scout, the highest advancement rank in Scouting.

Larsen has assembled manpower, materials, and cash donations to recreate the picnic area and add fire rings on gravel bases. The project is running close to $7,000 in supplies and labor. Boy Scouts from Troop 51 and 53 and members of the Bellarmine Preparatory Robotics team will be donating labor.

The donations and donors include:
Gravel from Miles Sand and Gravel
Excavator from Menotti Excavation
Lumber from Pinnacle Lumber and Plywood, Inc.
Coatings and application supplies from Lakewood Hardware and Paint
Fasteners from Tacoma Screw
Products, Drawings from BCRA Design
Funds: Dimmer Family Foundation
Fire Rings from Woodworth and Company
Shelters from Eaton Properties

Walter here again - You've got to love that a young man is getting involved in historic preservation so early in life! And as a bonus, Wyatt will be making life directly better for members of the military and their families. It's this sort of spirit that will remake Tillicum in turn.
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