Board thanks Eagle Scout for rehab of playground

EAST BRUNSWICK - Children using the Bowne-Munro School playground have local Boy Scouts to thank for the area's newly improved condition.

The playground has suffered from poor drainage over the years, leaving areas full of uneven sand, according to Sameer Sood, 18, who led the effort to rehabilitate the playground in August. Soor and about 30 friends helped build a trench so that water will run out into the woods, rather than causing gullies in the area where children play.

For Sood, the project doubled as a service to his old school and as a community service project that would help him earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

Sood, who graduated from East Brunswick High School in June and now attends Rutgers University, received help on the project from Scouts in Troop 220, which is based in East Brunswick. The project took about three days and over 300 man-hours, he said.

The main stage of the project was building the 180-foot-long trench across the playground and out to the nearby woods, taking the water from the blacktop rather than allowing it to sit in the playground. The trench is about 14 inches deep.

Sood said the Scouts also installed 180 feet of piping and laid down two tons of stone.

And that was just day one.

Sood and friends returned the following day to rehabilitate the wooden amphitheater, which is used for outdoor classes. The deck-like structure had fallen into disrepair over time, so Sood's team power washed it, removed the broken boards, cut new wood to replace the boards, and re-secured older boards. They then stained the entire structure.

Next up was resurfacing the playground. Sood said he used wood chips donated by the Board of Education to resurface areas damaged by water runoff.

Sood said that when he was looking for an Eagle project, he called various elementary schools asking for ideas. When he called Bowne-Munro, he was told to take a look at the school grounds and if he found anything in need, he could work on it. His scoutmaster, Gene Sempkowski, went with him and helped identify the areas in need.

On the final days of the project, he and the Scouts did touch-up work such as smoothing out the topsoil at the trench.

The Board of Education on Sept. 6 recognized Sood and his helpers for their contributions and presented Sood with a resolution of appreciation, stating that the results of his work "will be enjoyed by students who attend Bowne-Munro for many years to come."

"Sameer started with a vision that he was able to maturely and clearly communicate to the school principal and representatives of the Board of Education, and with them he developed an action plan that resulted in a safer and more attractive place to play and exercise," according to the resolution. "Sameer acquired the materials and equipment needed to make the renovations to the playground and amphitheater and then motivated and organized a group of his peers who, with his leadership, were able to complete the project.

"The East Brunswick Board of Education recognizes and appreciates Sameer Sood for his generosity and commitment to serving his community."