Abington Heights High School senior and Girl Scout Grace Bennett stands with the bench she donated to Hillside Park.
Submitted Photo
Local Girl Scout helps improve Hillside Park
Grace Bennett with the plastic she collected for her project.
Submitted Photo
Grace Bennett chooses a spot for her pollinator garden.
Submitted Photo
CLARKS SUMMIT — Hillside Park will soon provide more ways to enjoy being outdoors and connect with nature. That will be thanks to Girl Scout Grace Bennett of GS Troop 50797. She is working on her gold award project called Grace’s Garden Grandeur. She will build a pollinator garden at the park. It will be a continuation of her silver award project, Her Reflections Pathway, which has engraved stones to remember deceased loved ones.
“Many of the crucial pollinators we have are at risk,” said Grace. “So this project will allow a reinforcement of pollinator sustainability, but it will also provide a safe space, where people in my community can connect with nature outdoors.”
The garden will be complete with a book nook (pocket library) and selected plants and flowers to ensure pollination. It will also have two benches that she received from the Trex Company, Inc.
Grace collected plastic donations after applying to the Trex Recycling Program. She needed 1,000 lbs of plastic in order for the program to give her a bench. Her original goal was exceeded by continuing donations. She was able to obtain 2,000lbs of plastic, thus receiving a second bench.
Plastic was donated by Countryside Community Church. Gene LaRue, church member, dropped off the plastic gathered from the church at local supermarkets such as Weis, Gerrity’s and Giant. He also volunteered with Friends of the Poor to collect plastic, which was used for wrapping pallets of food from the Weinberg Food Bank.
“To say it’s a combined effort, that would be an understatement,” Gene said. “No one wants to see it (plastic) go in the landfill.”
Nancy Sarno De Los Rios, of Tuxedo by Sarno, offered her plastic from bags utilized for wrapping dry-cleaned tuxes and shoes. Tuxedo by Sarno recycles as much plastic as it can.
“It feels really good to not have this product go in a landfill and have it go to a worthy cause,” said Nancy. “We’re happy to help other projects if someone else is looking to do something like this.”
Grace’s Garden Grandeur was approved by The Abington Area Joint Recreation Board (AAJRB). Jeremy Bishop, owner of Stonecraft Stonescaping, is the advisor of this project. After collecting enough plastic, Grace received pre-fabricated kits of the benches. She will install them near the pollinator garden, which will be situated underneath a pergola for shade. She will work with Johnson Technical School to help put up the pergola. It will overlook Eston Wilson Lake.
“I love doing this project,” said Grace. “It’s a special feeling in my heart knowing that not only am I providing a safe space for my community to enjoy and I’m benefiting them, but I’m also benefiting the environment.”
Grace is a senior at Abington Heights High School. A few of the clubs she is involved at school include Interact, German, mock trial, and CLEO (Computer Literacy Education Outreach). She is president of the International Club. She also participates in cross-country and the girls varsity team, which will be going to states for the first time.
