On March 31, Wyatt Chisman, a Charlestown Eagle Scout, celebrated the dedication of a new pedestrian bridge in Greenway Park.
Wyatt reached out to Mayor Treva Hodges in December 2023 to express interest in an Eagle Scout Project to benefit the city. One of the early ideas was a bridge crossing Pleasant Run creek on the north side of the park.
“When she mentioned building the bridge, I knew instantly that was what I was going to do,” said Chisman, a junior at Charlestown High School.
Next came the planning phase, which included collaboration with volunteers, city employees, and design drawings. After a few months, the plans came together, and construction began in early fall 2024.
With the help of 16 volunteers and over 120 volunteer hours, Chisman led the project from the planning stage to completion. Utilizing old concrete pillars from the original bridge, the construction process was smooth. Completed on Nov. 5, the bridge was open to pedestrians just in time for Charlestown Christmas City.
“We decorated the bridge with lights and next year we plan to add garland,” said Hodges. “We saw many people use the bridge for photos during the holidays and enjoy that time of year.”
This spring, the Charlestown Parks staff added a pair of picnic tables to the greenspace across the bridge along the tree line. It creates a location to oversee the creek and enjoy a reprieve.
“I am very, very appreciative of having gotten the chance to help out my home community in Charlestown,” said Chisman. “This bridge will continue to benefit the city for many years in the future.”
Wyatt was thankful to his parents, Ben and Laura Chisman, along with relatives, scouts and other volunteers who supported the project. He also appreciated the work of city employees Tony Jackson (Building Commissioner), Abdiel Deida (Street Department), and Mayor Hodges, along with working with PC Lumber for material needs.
