Local scout seeks public input on Batavia Bark Park

In spring 2016, Aidan Meadows, a junior at Batavia High School working toward achieving Eagle Scout rank, approached the Batavia Park District with an idea for a project. After visiting the Bark Park at West Main Community Park numerous times with his dog, Cadet, he came up with the idea to develop a master plan for the park.

"The park is a good place for dogs to run, but it's my goal to enhance the Bark Park in a such a way to make it a better, more fun experience for both humans and dogs," Meadows said.

Meadows has been in the Boy Scout organization since first grade. He is currently with Boy Scout Troop 6 in Batavia. As part of achieving the highest rank in scouting, he must complete an Eagle Scout Project which tailors toward improving, helping and benefiting the community.

The Bark Park Master Plan will include a new and improved blue print for the park. Part of the process will involve getting input from the community. Meadows hopes to do that at a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at The Lodge at Laurelwood, 1 S. Logan St.

"I want to gain insight into what the community would desire at the Bark Park," he said, "While I have my own ideas and my own vision for the park, I want to make this park communal and devise a plan together."

Meadows also plans to work closely with his Scout troop as well as staff at the Batavia Park District to help take this public input and translate it to a plan on paper.

"Boy Scouts is all about working as a group and as a community to help benefit the community as a whole," Meadows said.

For more information about this project, visit www.bataviaparks.org.