By Rita Jamison
 Daniel Meakin’s Eagle Scout project at Redwood Grove included repairing 20 feet of fence damaged due to erosion. |
When Los Altos High School sophomore Daniel Meakin was searching for a project that would move him toward the rank of Eagle Scout, he knocked on the door of Keith Guiterrez, the Park Ranger at Redwood Grove Nature Preserve.
“We do have a project at this time,” Guiterrez said. “A railing along a trail needs to be repaired.”
Located near Shoup Park on University Avenue, the preserve offers many well-maintained trails and hosts numerous summer camps. Part of Adobe Creek runs through it, which adds to its beauty.
However, two years ago, a storm uprooted a tree along one of its trails.
A mound of dirt remained when the tree was removed, altering the natural flow of the creek. Also, it was necessary to stake off many feet of damaged handrails to alert users to a dangerous situation.
“The City would have done something about it, but they are short-handed at this time,” Guiterrez said.
In his proposal, Meakin addressed public safety, the elimination of liability to the city and beautification of an important community property: “I would like to cut back into the hill to create a safe distance between the hill and the slope. I would also rebuild the 20 feet of fence damaged due to erosion and clean out the debris at the base of the hill.”
When his plan won the approval of the Pacific Skyline Council of the Boys Scout of America (BSA), Meakin recruited help from Scout Troops Nos. 88 and 22, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).
The young men and their adult leaders, Bob Meakin and Kelly Hawkes, worked every Saturday from March until the work was completed in May.
To ensure the safety of small children using the trail, a middle rail was added to the fence. And when a tree branch that overhung a power line had to be cut down, Meakin constructed a scaffold; in case the branch fell wrong, it would not break the power line.
“They did a good job” Gutierrez says. “They cut into the wall and moved it farther back, away from the edge to give it a good buffer. It should last eight to ten years, unless there’s a storm that’s totally wild. They actually did it in pretty fast time …We are very happy to get the project done.”
The participating Scouts and their adult leaders were Miles Beckstead, Dan Bethers, Matthew Brigham, Edward Cook, Anthony Hall, Brent Hall, Steve Meakin, Ben Parker, Tanner Rhodes, Weston Rhodes, Alex Wheatley, Nathan Wilkinson, Kelly Hawkes and Bob Meakin.
