Community

Scouts Clean Up ‘Pig Path’ in Woodsdale

Woodsdale's famous "pig path" is getting a cleanup by three Boy Scouts seeking to earn their Eagle Scout badges.

Benjamin Holliday of Boy Scouts of America Troop 82 in Glen Dale and Justin Riggs and Kelley Riedel of Troop 5 in Wheeling each have taken on a third of the effort needed to restore the historic walkway/bikeway connecting Heiskell Avenue and Elm Street in Woodsdale.

The passage once was part of a trolley line that ran from Wheeling to Elm Grove.

Holliday is a recent graduate of Hurricane High School and will attend West Virginia University in the fall. He started the project, focusing on safety measures at the path where it meets Elm Street. He redirected the entrance to the path slightly, and placed signage to alert vehicles to pedestrian traffic. A crosswalk also was painted in the area.

Holliday was inspired to make changes at the intersection of the "Pig Path" with Elm Street after a serious accident occurred there involving a member of his family. His cousin, Michael Borsuk -- who had just received his Eagle Scout badge three months before -- was struck by a car at the intersection.

Borsuk was wearing a helmet at the time, and it saved his life, according to Frank Borsuk -- Borsuk's father and Holliday's uncle. Frank Borsuk also serves as assistant scout leader for Troop 5.

"Ben thought, 'Lets divert the path 54 feet, and do a crossing so someone stopping at the stop sign won't hit someone walking or biking," Frank Borsuk said. "It eliminated a dangerous intersection."

The other scouts then jumped on the opportunity to continue the project and work toward their Eagle Scout badges.

Riedel, 15, is an incoming sophomore at Wheeling Central Catholic High School.

His work involved the middle area of the path. It often would get muddy from water runoff, and Riedel worked to dig a trench and divert the water into a nearby creek.

He next placed a picnic table and benches along the path near the creek.

"This area where the picnic table is … people were throwing their grass clippings and rocks and branches there. So I took all of that out and put the picnic table in," Riedel said.

He also found a railing along the path broken off and thrown into the creek.

"I took it out of the creek, resanded it and placed it back in," Riedel said.

He said he spent about "six to seven hours" doing the work.

Riggs, 17, is an incoming senior at Wheeling Park High School. Finding an Eagle Scout project became a pressing issue for him, as it has to be completed by the end of summer and the time he turns 18.

He took on the third section of the path, beginning where Riedel's work stopped. Riggs plans to place gravel on the path, and extend its walkability to its beginning on Heiskell Avenue.

Before that, he and helpers will work to cut down weeds and branches on the path.

Riggs said the project and achieving his Eagle Scout status are "about all I have left" to do as a Scout.

"I hopped on the first project possible, and got 'super in' to figuring out how to do it," he said.

The money already has been raised for the gravel, according to Riggs. He is now speaking with city officials about transporting the gravel.

He suspects many of the younger Scouts in his troop will come to help spread the gravel, and learn how a "public service project works."

He will also be calling on a few friends to come help.

"It's fun," Riggs said. "It will probably take three to four hours to complete."

He plans to have the work finished this month.

Once their projects are completed, there will be meetings with the Boy Scouts Eagle Board of Review -- whose members must approve the project.

After this, there will be a court of honor ceremony, when the Scouts receive their Eagle Scout badges.

"I love Eagle Scout projects!" said Jesse Mestrovec, director of parks and recreation for the city of Wheeling. "These projects are great for young men to demonstrate their leadership while performing a meaningful project for the community. Each one of these projects positively impacts the community and adds value to the Woodsdale neighborhood. These projects are almost entirely funded by themselves and their diligence canvassing for donations.

"I am very proud of these young men, their projects, and their interest in bettering our community. A big shout out to all the gracious donors, volunteers, parents, guardians and troop leaders that helped these young men and made these projects a reality. Thank you for your dedication and support!"

He encourages any Scout wishing to do a project in the city to contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 304-234-3641, or email at wheelingrec@wheelingwv.gov.