Memorial park almost finished

For nine years, a vacant lot in Naperville's Longwood subdivision served as a reminder of the floods of 1996 and the damage they did to homes in the neighborhood.

Now, the lot at Claymore and Glenoban serves to remind residents of their fallen hero.

More than 30 neighbors, Boy and Girl Scouts, friends and family of fallen Marine Sgt. David Caruso worked Saturday to put the finishing touches on the David M. Caruso Memorial Park.

They planted bushes and trees Saturday and with cooperative weather, project coordinator and local homeowners association president Sherry See said the park will be complete next weekend after a shipment of 300 perennials are planted.

"Once DuPage County dedicated the land for this park in 2005, I knew we had to do something spectacular with it for David," See said. "Just standing here, you can feel the great spirit this area has and I'd hate to waste that."

Caruso, a Recon Ranger, was killed Nov. 9, 2004 rescuing a team member while on a mission in Fallujah.

His parents, Joe and Gloria Caruso, shovels in hand Saturday, said they miss their son every day. But they find comfort knowing their Eagle Scout, who loved the outdoors, would have enjoyed this park, less than a half mile from their home.

In 1996, David helped clean the lot after flood waters destroyed the home that used to sit there.

"This is something he never would have expected anyone to do for him, so he would be totally amazed," Joe Caruso said, watching volunteers plant bushes along the park. "The boy loved the outdoors and this would have been right up his alley."

Caruso also has a plaque on a rock in his honor at nearby Longwood Elementary School. Another memorial stands in Greene Valley Forest Preserve near Naperville, where Caruso built a bridge to earn his Eagle Scout rank in 1996.

Boy Scouts helping prepare the park Saturday said it was the least they could do for a Scout whose legacy was held up as the ideal Scout role model.

Dan Bainbridge, 16, of Naperville's Troop 81 never met Caruso but said it was an honor to be a part of the project for both Caruso's family and the community.

"This is the most special project I've been a part of and one I will never forget," Bainbridge said. "Hopefully everyone will enjoy it. I will too once it's finished."

Scout Chris Dunning, 15, also of Troop 81, said the park's mere existence could lead to more Eagle rank projects for Scouts looking to advance.

"This will require some upkeep, remulching and things of that sort so it's almost full circle," Dunning said. "(David) was an Eagle Scout so I'm sure he'd be happy to know his park was helping others get there."

See said she would like to have a grand opening party for the park in the weeks after it is complete but fears the weather may not cooperate as it did Saturday.

"If not, we'll have a great ceremony here on Memorial Day," See said. "I couldn't think of a better way."