Des Plaines Scout building bocce courts for seniors

Those who frequent the Frisbie Senior Center in Des Plaines will soon be able to play bocce ball on a new outdoor patio thanks to a local Boy Scout working on an Eagle service project.

The patio and bocce ball courts are taking shape on the east side of the senior center building at 52 E. Northwest Highway.

John Meyer, a Life Scout from Boy Scout Troop 6 and junior at Maine West High School, approached senior center officials about four months ago to gauge their interest in his service project to attain the Eagle rank, the highest rank in Boy Scouts.

Steve Samuelson, the center’s president and CEO, said Meyer has been at the forefront of the project since the beginning, from the time he introduced the concept, through his work with city officials to get necessary approvals, to his oversight of work crews made up of fellow Scouts.

What’s more, Samuelson says, Meyer has been “pounding the pavement and knocking on lots of doors” to get donations for the project, both in-kind contributions of construction materials from local businesses, and financial contributions from community members.

“He’s done a phenomenal job, from start to finish, of doing his research, pitching to the right people, and getting support from the community,” Samuelson said.

After starting with construction in September, the Scouts are now finishing the bocce courts, and then plan to put in a small garden and fencing before its official opening.