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Braedon Bingham, 15, a student at Bishop Watterson High School, planned and oversaw the construction of a new brick walking path and landscaping in a section of Weaver Park, 4100 Columbia St. in Hilliard, for his Eagle Scout project.

Braedon Bingham and Ethan Bryan recently completed Eagle Scout projects at Weaver Park and Scioto Darby Elementary School, respectively.

Bingham, 15, a student at Bishop Watterson High School, wasn't inspired to continue in the Boy Scouts after his family moved to Columbus from St. Louis in 2007, but new friends he made at school helped return him to the service organization.

Bingham is the son of John and Tricia Bingham of the Hilliard area.

A member of Troop 814 of the Simon Kenton Council of Boy Scouts of America, Bingham planned and oversaw the construction of a new brick walking path and landscaping in a section of Weaver Park, 4100 Columbia St. in Hilliard. Scioto Ridge United Methodist Church sponsors Troop 814.

Hilliard Recreation and Parks Director Steve Mazer suggested the project to Bingham, who successfully received approval from David Meeks, scoutmaster of Troop 814 and economic development director for the city of Hilliard.

Bingham's project is one of several recent Eagle Scout projects to benefit the city of Hilliard, and the Recreation and Parks Department in particular.

"I like doing landscaping," said Bingham, who earns money mowing lawns, mulching and performing minor landscaping jobs for several regular customers.

The responsibility he learned through scouting led to additional referrals and a growing business, his mother, Tricia, said.

"I think it has helped him mature more than many other 15-year-olds," she said.

Bingham said scouting has helped him discover more about himself and taught him leadership skills.

He estimated about 100 man-hours were invested in the project among those who contributed to the project.

To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, a scout is charged not with performing the labor, but rather with planning it, including all the logistics, delivery of required material, overseeing the labor and completing the project on time and as planned.

Bingham's project included grading a part of Weaver Park to reduce flooding, planting grass seed, building a new brick walking path and some ancillary landscaping.

A court of honor has yet to be scheduled for Bingham. A court of honor is a ceremony in which a Boy Scout is bestowed the honor of Eagle Scout.

Bingham has three years remaining as an active scout and said he will continue to accrue merit badges, as well as serve as an assistant scout manager and as a mentor to his younger brother, Scott, also a member of Troop 814.

Bryan, 15, a sophomore at Hilliard Darby High School, chose his elementary school alma mater as the beneficiary of his Eagle Scout project.

He is the son of Robert and Lynnette Bryan of Hilliard.

"My dad and I drove around for ideas for a project and I thought about doing something for my school," he said.

Bryan initially aspired to build an outdoor classroom at Scioto-Darby Elementary School, 5380 Scioto Darby Road, but after talking with members of the school's PTO, he learned about another opportunity.

Bryan spent 209 hours blueprinting, mapping and planning a project that entailed outlining six hopscotch games and five four-square games on the school playground's asphalt surface.

Thirty-two scout and adult volunteers carried out Bryan's plan, investing about 321 man-hours.

Bryan and other Scouts raised $2,409 from the sale of Hometown Buffet value cards that, coupled with a $100 gift card from Lowe's, covered the cost of the project.

Bryan was a first-grade student at Scioto Darby Elementary School when he joined the Cub Scouts.

"I think scouting has made me a better person today," Bryan said. "I've learned the importance of giving back to my community and leadership skills that will help me later in life."

Bryan attended an engineering camp at Ohio State University this summer, as well as a workshop for developing video games.

Bryan's father, Robert, is an assistant scoutmaster for his troop, Troop 734 of the Simon Kenton Council of the Boy Scouts of America. St. James Lutheran Church sponsors Troop 734.

"Scouting helps prepare boys to take better care of themselves and lead others ... and I think it had benefited Ethan," he said. "He has helped at the summer camp at his church and has given back to his community in other ways."

As of Aug. 6, Bryan was waiting only for stencils to paint final white lines. The project is expected to be done before children return to school Aug. 21.

A court of honor is yet to be scheduled for Bryan, who is an assistant patrol leader of Troop 734.