Summers soars to Eagle Scout rank with project at Parkersburg park
Brian Summers shakes hands with Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce after completing his Eagle Scout project. (Photo Provided)
Before: The Summers Memorial Plaza was bare prior to Brian Summers’ Eagle Scout project. (Photo Provided)
After: Part of the cleanup involved weeding the area, pulling out dead plants and replacing them with flowers that would bloom each year. (Photo Provided)
Scouts in Troop 12 work to help Brian Summers complete his Eagle Scout project, restoring the Summers Memorial Plaza at City Park. (Photo Provided)
One of the beds following the completion of the Eagle Scout project. (Photo Provided)
Brian Summers shakes hands with Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce after completing his Eagle Scout project. (Photo Provided)
Before: The Summers Memorial Plaza was bare prior to Brian Summers’ Eagle Scout project. (Photo Provided)
After: Part of the cleanup involved weeding the area, pulling out dead plants and replacing them with flowers that would bloom each year. (Photo Provided)
Scouts in Troop 12 work to help Brian Summers complete his Eagle Scout project, restoring the Summers Memorial Plaza at City Park. (Photo Provided)
One of the beds following the completion of the Eagle Scout project. (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG -- Brian Summers, 18, a senior at Parkersburg High School, cleaned up the Summers Memorial Plaza at City Park for his Eagle Scout project.
The plaza also is known as Pappas Corner.
Pat Pappas, a former Parkersburg mayor, was Summers' great aunt.
"When looking for a good project to take on, I stumbled upon a plaque at City Park I was unaware existed," said Summers.
The plaque reads "Summers Memorial Plaza; Dedicated to the memory of A. Karl Summers by his wife Eloise, daughter Pat Pappas and son Michael Summers."
Karl Summers was Brian Summers' great grandfather.
Summers said he wanted to clean up the area, so the community had a nice sitting area. Finding out the area had been dedicated to a family member made it even more special to him, he said.
"Part of the cleanup involved weeding the area, pulling out dead plants and replacing them with flowers that would bloom each year," said Summers.
Summers said among things planted in the sitting area was a vegetable garden with strawberries, tomatoes, peppers and herbs.
"Hard work really pays off," said Summers.
The plaza will be maintained through The Friends of Parkersburg, but Summers will continue to help out.
Summers said he has been a Scout since first grade and that his older brother Aaron was in Scouts as well.
"I really looked up to him and wanted to follow in his footsteps," said Summers.
Aaron Summers earned his Eagle Scout badge in 2017 after completing landscaping at Greenmont preschool.
"I am really proud of my brother for sticking with Scouts and striving to help the community," said Aaron Summers.
Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com