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Eagle Scout candidate improves Uptown Shelby Association alley
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The Uptown Shelby Association is appreciative that local scout Austin McInnis selected the alley they own behind their office building for his Eagle Scout project. The alley is one of the few privately-owned in the Uptown district, and USA has wanted to make improvements on it for over six years. Before the project, the alley was grass, gravel, and mud with a relatively steep slope over a short distance. "There have been some great plans drawn up for the alley in the past, but they have been cost prohibitive. Estimates ranged from $35-55,000 over the years, and as a non-profit, we can neither afford nor justify that kind of expenditure on a small improvement project.
A scaled-back version of the improvements was still on the order of $15,000- 20,000, which was not feasible for the organization. With further plan revisions and contributions of surplus brick pavers plus some drainage improvements by the City, USA was in a position to pay for basic site preparation (grading, drainage work, and sub-base material for brick pavers). That cost was less than $5000. Austin's project did the rest. In addition to securing donations of some materials and the use of tools and equipment, over 5 workdays in March and April, Austin and his helpers prepared the base, laid the pavers, planted trees and shrubs, undertook some basic cleanup and demolition work and basically transformed the neglected space into an inviting outdoor room for USA, the neighbors, and the public to use and enjoy. Not quite 300 man-hours are accounted for. Nearly 8000 bricks were installed.
Local landscape architect Fred Blackley, a USA board member and Troop 100 leader, drew the design for the alley project. The City of Shelby donated bricks that were removed from Uptown sidewalks in prior years, which greatly reduced the cost of the project. After stairs were added and the alley was graded for proper water flow, McInnis, fellow Scouts, and troop leaders spent several Saturdays preparing the alley and laying brick. "We have gotten a lot of great feedback about the alley from our neighbors as well as people who have seen it walking through Uptown. People love the overall transformation, but they comment most on the brick work. They are impressed to learn it was done by Boy Scouts," shared Whetten. The Scouts planted plants and two bald cypresses to add additional appeal to the alley.
We are so appreciative of the time and effort on the part of Austin and the other Scouts and volunteers from Troop 100 who made this vision a reality," commented Audrey Whetten, executive director of the Uptown Shelby Association.
The Uptown Shelby Association has plans to use the alley for small events in the future and hopes to add additional features such as public art as well. "We hope this project will inspire other property owners in and around Uptown Shelby to think of creative ways to improve their properties. Our alley has been completely transformed, but even small improvements make a big difference," said Whetten.
For more information, please call the Uptown Shelby Association at 704-484-3100.
Austin presented and defended his project and documentation to the Battleground District Eagle Board on June 2nd.

-Provided by Audrey Whetten


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