The entrance to the stairs that lead to the old soccer field. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, 14-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick has to plan, develop, and lead a project that benefits his community. So Ryan has decided to restore and beautify a trail in Edgewood Park, just off the Edgewood Avenue bridge over the West River, that leads to the old soccer fields. Ryan described his plans for the trail — which includes new signage, removal of weeds and hazards, and the addition of gravel — at Wednesday’s latest monthly meeting of the Commission on Parks, Programs, Recreational Facilities. Ryan is a rising sophomore at Engineering and Science University Magnet School (ESUMS). He’s been a member of Scouting America for three years with Troop 63. He knows Edgewood Park well. “I’ve lived a block from Edgewood Park my whole life,” he told commissioners. “It’s been like my second backyard.” The park, he said, had been a lifesaver during the Covid lockdown. He has gotten a lot from the park and wants to give back. Now, at 14, Ryan holds the second-highest rank of Life Scout, as of June. He’s a senior patrol leader in his troop. To receive the highest rank of Eagle Scout, Ryan has to complete an Eagle Scout service project, known as an Eagle Project. “It encourages you to improve your community,” he explained. “It’s an opportunity for leadership.” The projects can take a lot of time, so scouts have to be dedicated enough to see it through, Ryan said. He’s worked on five Eagle Projects led by older scouts. “So I kind of know what to expect,” he said. Ryan reached out to the city’s Parks Department, which helped him come up with a few different options for his Eagle Project. Ultimately, they settled on the trail. Ryan’s presentation to parks commissioners. Parks Director Max Webster said that the goal is for the area to eventually be re-dedicated as the Edgewood Bird Sanctuary. The area used to be a soccer field. After a 2012 tidal marsh restoration project allowed incoming tides to flow into the West River, the area flooded more often and became more of a wetland. The new environment has attracted tons of birds. Webster said that it is where local birders conduct the annual Christmas bird count. “They count hundreds of species that use this space,” he said. Dennis Riordan, president of the Menunkatuck Audubon Society, said that his group was prepared to install “a number of nest boxes” to the bird sanctuary when it’s completed. In the meantime, Ryan plans to improve the trail by pushing back weeds to make the trail wider; removing hazards like fallen logs, pricker bushes, and trenches that could cause a visitor to twist an ankle; and to put down something like gravel to keep weeds from growing back and prevent flooding and erosion. Ryan also wants to make the entrance more noticeable and inviting. “It’s just a staircase with no indication of where it leads,” he said. He plans to get started on the project in the fall. He presented to commissioners a handful of A.I.-generated photos of what an improved version of the trail might look like, for an idea of his goal. “I think that’s a great idea,” commissioner Mary Ann Moran said about Ryan’s plan. A longtime community gardener, Moran suggested a material that he could put down first below the gravel or stones to ensure weeds don’t grow back. As the project didn’t require a vote from the parks commission, no further approval was necessary for Ryan to continue with his Eagle Project. Parks commissioner Mary Ann Moran. After descending the stairs off of Edgewood Ave. The tunnel beneath Edgewood Ave. A trail visitor, who declined to be included in this article, leaves seeds for the many birds he sees enjoying the area. Ryan (right) with dad John Fitzpatrick. The post Aspiring Eagle Scout Eyes Edgewood Trail Renewal appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less