Eagle Scout project improves entry at North Huntingdon park

Aug. 27—A North Huntingdon Boy Scout followed in the path of his older brother and sister in earning Scouting's highest honor.

Shane Hornicak, 16, a member of Troop 251 of Larimer, earned the rank of Eagle Scout in June after completing his project: a new cable-tie bridge railing at the entrance to Lions Park, situated along Macarthur Drive.

North Huntingdon previously built a concrete bridge deck over a small stream at the park, but there was no railing.

The project was several months in planning and Hornicak received approved from the township to proceed, said Daniel Miller, director of North Huntingdon's parks and recreation. Construction began on April 24 and was completed in June.

The work made "a major contribution to the Lions Park upgrade," Miller said.

The project cost approximately $3,000, plus another $3,000 for the value of the labor to put together the cable-tie bridge system, Miller said. There was about 300 hours of labor from fellow scouts, family, friends and township officials.

The project is aesthetically pleasing, said Mike Turley, township assistant manager, and would have cost much more if it the municipality had to pay a private contractor for the work.

"The value is beyond the thousands of dollars it cost," Turley said.

In December 2016, Shane's older brother, Nick, then 15, and his older sister, Liz, then 16, did a trail improvement project at the township's Braddock's Trail park off Robbins Station Road. For Nick, the project was done to become an Eagle Scout, and for Liz, it was done to earn the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts.

Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe at 724-836-5252, jnapsha@triblive.com or via Twitter .