Greenbrook Elementary Cub Scouts Adopt Bridge, Removing Graffiti and Trash

Lisa Elissiry thought it was about time the trash and graffiti was cleaned-up under a bridge on the Iron Horse trail. 

She saw the project as a way for her Cub Scouts to learn about helping the community and also earn their world conservation patch.

After a clean-up project on May 12, Cub Scout den 1 out of Greenbrook Elementary will now spend the next year making sure the bridge and creek stay clean.

"I went down there about a year ago and realized that something needs to be done about that," said Elissiry, a leader for den 1, part of Cub Scout pack 815 with 90 boys from Greenbrook.  "It is just the perfect spot for people to hide and party. I think they just spray paint and make it their own place."

The town, through the efforts of town councilmember Robert Storer, donated three gallons of paint for the Cub Scouts to cover the graffiti on the bridge.

Elissiry said it would have cost $120 to $180 to buy the paint. She said she is very grateful to the town for funding the community service project.

"What a wonderful cause," said councilmember Storer."We have so many people in town that wake up in the morning and do such nice things."

About nine of the 12 boys in the den helped paint over the graffiti on the bridge that is about a quarter mile from Greenbrook Elementary School. The boys also picked-up garbage in the creek and even tried to remove an overturned shopping cart, although they were unsuccessful.

Now that the den spent time cleaning-up the bridge and the creek, Elissiry said she is going to check on the bridge area every few weeks, and have her den work on keeping the area clean.

She hopes the lesson of giving back to the community, rather than leaving your mark in town by littering or graffiti, will stay with the boys.

She said, "I tell my boys when you leave your mark, to leave it in a positive way."