‘A public works project’

On Friday, Nov. 17, Bohemia BSA Troop 76 member, Patric Gleason, was celebrated by his family, community members, and elected officials in the official unveiling of his Eagle Scout project at Lotus Lake in Bayport that was completed after three years.

The expansive project included a bridge over the Lotus Lake spillway  that had previously featured a makeshift bridge that was unsafe.

“The idea of my Eagle project, the Meadow Croft bridge, began in April 2021 when my troop was working to clean up the area with the Creek Defenders of Sayville and Bayport,” said Gleason. “When I saw the dilapidated bridge, I said to my dad, ‘This will be my Eagle Scout project.’”

Dave Barile, Bellport Landworks, Ironworkers Local 580, Home Depot of Patchogue, GTS Lumber, All County Block and Supply, Bill Larson, Chic-Fil-A Smithtown, UFCW 1500, who all donated time and supplies for the project, were present for the ceremony.

Councilman Jim O’Connor (R-2nd District) said, “This is like a public works project,” while marveling at the structure.

Nicholas Gibbons, the principal analyst at the Suffolk County Parks Department, spoke of Gleason’s dedication and steadfastness while navigating the multiple government agencies that required permits for the project.

“When I first met with Pat and his father, when I got back to the office, I said, ‘There is no way this project is ever going to happen.’ These guys have no idea what they’re getting themselves [into]. This is multiple Eagle Scout projects into one. The bench in and of itself on a footing like that—that’s an Eagle Scout project. The wetland restoration, which was to restore what was degraded—that’s an Eagle Scout project… but one meeting and I thought, that was it, but I am very happy to [be] wrong,” said Gibbons.

Multiple community members spoke about how integral the lake was to their childhoods, including stories of swinging into the lake from a tree, budding scientists analyzing the water of the lake, and even some teenage tomfoolery.