Braintree Scouts Complete Pier for Eagle Scout Project at Pond Meadow

Two local Boy Scouts recently raised $1,500 and constructed a new pier at Pond Meadow Park for their Eagle Scout project.

Vernon Harrison Jr. built the pier itself and Nicolas Van Alfen added the metal rails. The young men, both from Braintree and in BSA Troop 110 Hingham, collected scrap metal and used a 5K race to raise the money.

The pier will serve as a place for people to fish and view nature, and some people have even had their weddings on previous iterations of the pier, park supervisor Sean Cleaves said. Because of harsh winter conditions, the piers typically last about 10 years.

Many scouts have completed projects at Pond Meadow. Cleaves said he was surprised that Harrison and Van Alfen were able to complete the pier, after pre-building it elsewhere, in just one day.

“This is a pretty significant one," Cleaves said.

Harrison's father and Scoutmaster, Vernon Harrison, said that during a hike in the park he noticed the pier was in need of replacement.

"We reached out to the park and they reserved the project for us," Harrison said in an email. "Although a little aggressive for an Eagle Scout Project, both Scouts have fond memories of the park as Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and neighbors."