Eagle Scout Gage Pittman (left), accompanied by his honorary aunt, Karen Gorski (right), is recognized by Trenton Mayor Steven Rzeppa during the Aug. 19 City Council meeting.
Eagle Scout Gage Pittman
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON – Eagle Scout Gage Pittman was recognized by Mayor Steven Rzeppa and the City Council Aug. 19 for his Eagle Scout project, which facilitated disability accessible picnic tables in the city.
Pittman, 15, of Canton Township, who is a member of Trenton-based Scout Troop 1721, said his Eagle project, which made picnic tables accessible to wheelchair users at the city’s Cultural Center, also accommodates people with other mobility challenges.
“We added some extra stuff to it so that people who can’t swing their legs over could just slide right in,” he said.
Pittman said the project was funded through a bottle and can drive, and donations.
He said it makes him happy that his honorary aunt, Karen Gorski, who can’t easily swing her legs over a picnic table bench, can more easily sit at the modified picnic tables.
“I was just wanting to see people use it,” Pittman said. “I hope it gets a lot of use.”
He said it is important to keep moving forward and to not become discouraged or overwhelmed.
“Don’t give up,” he said. “It’s really hard to stay focused on one thing, because you have to worry about your board of review after, but you just focus on one thing at a time, one step after another.”