Pictured are, from left, are Denise Bennett, Grace Bennett, Will, Zachary, Declan and Chris Kane.
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Scout’s Silver Award Project a reflections pathway at Hillside Park
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Grace Bennett working on Her Reflections Pathway.
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Grace Bennett placing a paver in the pathway.
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Grace Bennett breaks ground for her Silver Awards Project.
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Grace Bennett making a pathway with Pennsylvania bluestone pavers.
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CLARKS SUMMIT – Girl scout Grace Bennett, ambassador of Troop 50797, wanted to do her Silver Award Project at Hillside Park.
That is where she walks her dogs each night, plays softball and ice skates on Eston Wilson Lake. When her grandfather passed away two years ago during COVID, it sparked an interest in Grace for her to make something to help people remember deceased loved ones.
“I thought it would be really nice for people of my community to reflect back on their loved ones by making a paver dedicated to them,” she said.
Grace decided to create an engraved path called Her Reflections Pathway at Hillside Park. People are invited to purchase a paver by ordering it at the site and have a positive message engraved on it.
The pavers are made of Pennsylvania bluestone. The engravings are made by Monuments by Parise in Blakely, which is owned by South Abington Township resident Jeff Parise. A 6 inch-by-12-inch paver including two lines with 20 characters each line costs $100. A 12-inch-by-12-inch paver including six lines with 20 characters costs $150. The proceeds go to the nonprofit organization Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.
The pathway leads to the future labyrinth, which her sister Faith recently finished at Hillside Park for her Gold Award Project.
The pavers, which were ordered, for the reflections pathway were starting to be engraved in the beginning of September. They were delivered to the park in October.
Grace has performed more than her required 50 hours on her project. She has also received much help.
Buranich Excavating prepared the land. Cub Scouts Pack 251 spread mulch provided by Justus True Value. Gumble’s Supply-Hardscape/Landscape/Veneer Store supplied flexible railing to prevent pavers from moving. Frank Summa, masonry teacher at Abington Heights High School, took his students to the park to help install the pavers for two hours a day. He and the students brought pavers to the school and cut the stones to make them curved to form the pathway. They also took leftover pavers and made a bench out of them. This was arranged by the Principal Andrew Snyder.
Grace received the Silver Award in the mail in October.
“I felt very accomplished, and I’m glad to get it done because this idea I’ve had ever since 2020,” she said. “In 2022, it finally came to be and just looking back at all the work I’ve put into it, I’m just very grateful that I finally received the award and I can help my community out.”
Grace is a freshman at Abington Heights High School. She is a member of the German Club, Interact and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).
