When Boy Scout Max Tollefson had to come up with an Eagle Scout project, he knew instantly what he wanted to do: clean up the Highway 23 scenic overlook in Gary.
It's a family thing. His brother, Zak, had chosen the same spot for his Eagle Scout project seven years ago.
Since then, Max had watched the location, with its stunning views of the St. Louis River, slowly fill up with trash.
It's called "wildcat dumping," that thing people do when they just take their garbage -- everyday trash, old tires and broken appliances -- and just dump it in some out-of-the-way place.
"It was almost as bad (as when Zak cleaned up the overlook)," Max said. "It needed it.
ADVERTISEMENT
So Max and 22 other members and leaders of Boy Scout Troop No. 25 spent most of Saturday, May 23, picking up the overlook, scrubbing graffiti off rocks and cutting down the trees and brush that prevented sightseers from seeing more than a glimpse of the river.
When they were finished, Max's dad (and troop leader), Scott Tollefson, estimates they had cut down about 700 small popple trees, filled roughly 17 50-gallon heavy duty garbage bags and wheeled out a number of discarded tires.
All that from an area about 80 to 90 yards wide and 50 to 60 yards deep.
"Yeah, some of it was pretty gross," said Max, noting that they found everything from deer bones to condoms to common household garbage dumped on the site.
As part of his Eagle Scout project, Max had to propose, plan and execute the cleanup. That meant contacting the city, getting any necessary permits, fundraising for supplies, organizing people and equipment, then telling them what to do and where to go on the actual day of the event.
"It's more the planning and leadership than the actual project," explained Scott. "Organizing something and seeing it through."
On Thursday, the city's Tom Kasper said he was impressed with what the Boy Scout troop and Max had accomplished.
"Anytime an Eagle Scout or a group approaches me and they're interested in a park project, I'm pleased," said Kasper. "Especially when young kids are interested in bettering their community.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kasper, the city's lead worker in maintenance operations, had to sign off on the project before and after its completion.
Max, an eighth-grader at Morgan Park Middle School headed to Denfeld next year, will be the first Eagle Scout in his four-year-old troop.
"He's kind of making a legacy," said Scott. "He wants to keep this site clean. We're out there a lot with our unit, so we see it all the time. Some of the troop members are thinking about doing Skyline, too, because some of the places along there are pretty bad.
"With the city budget cuts, they can't do as much, but it leaves the door open for the Eagle Scouts. That's one way to look at it."
