Montour Trail-Letter

Volume 12, Issue 2

March/April, 2001

Kevin Bigger, David Fournier, Seth Spill, and Eric Keefe sit on one of the four newly constructed benches that they made for the Bethel section of the Montour Trail

Seth Spill of Boy Scout Troop 65 in Mt. Lebanon working through Bob O'Connell of the Bethel Park Friends of the Trail developed a plan to construct and install a picnic table and four park benches along the Bethel Park section of the Montour Trail. Seth obtained plans for the items to be constructed, procured the materials through requests for donations, and organized the manpower to complete the project. The Boy Scouts of America will not accept an Eagle Scout project unless it is a positive benefit to the community. On Seths project application the following is noted:

"Being recently finished, this stretch of trail is lacking any place to sit and rest. The addition of benches will provide those who make use of the trail with a comfortable place to relax after activity. The picnic table will allow weekenders to enjoy a meal in nature or allow hikers or bikers to break for lunch."

Seth organized 20 volunteers, including fellow scouts, scout leaders, family members, and friends of the family to complete this 187 man-hour project. The table and benches were constructed and painted with a redwood stain. The table with the attached benches was chained to a tree in a shady area near the midpoint of the trail and the four benches were cemented into the ground at various locations along the trail.

Seth Spill, a senior at Mt. Lebanon High School, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on January 20, 2001 at a special Court of Honor held at Sunset Hills Presbyterian Church in Mt. Lebanon. At this ceremony, Trail Member John Neuhaus presented Seth a Certificate and Letter of Appreciation from the Montour Trail Council President, Peter Kohnke.