Park in Apalachin revitalized by local Boy Scout

Thanks to the efforts of an Apalachin youth working toward his Eagle Scout, a neighborhood park tucked away in the Woodwinds Development was recently cleaned up after years of neglect.

The Eric Alzate Memorial Park, located on Rebecca Drive in Apalachin, forever remembers Eric Alzate, an eight year old boy who lost his life to brain cancer in 1994. A quaint little park in the center of a neighborhood just off of East Main Street in Apalachin, it includes a playground set, a play area with a bench, and a short walking path.

Part of the Town of Owego Parks, the park was dedicated in 1999 by then Town of Owego Supervisor, Carol Sweeney and board members at the time.  

Fallen trees and overgrown shrubs had inundated the park over the years. The park was inaccessible and eventually unidentifiable, to the point that individuals driving or walking by could not see the main entrance sign.        

Jenny Alzate, Eric’s sister, explained that the Alzate family has remained living in the area, and commented, “I feel the Town of Owego failed on their part,” adding, “I’m just really disappointed in the parks department.”

The extensive project awarded Joshua Thomas, who will be a senior this fall at Vestal High School and an active scout since the fifth grade, the prestigious achievement of Eagle Scout. The highest rank within the Boy Scouts of America, the designation of Eagle Scout is granted to only about four percent of all scouts.

Thomas prepared a proposal, presented it to Troop Leaders and the Eagle Board, as well as to the Town of Owego Parks Department. Relentless wet weather in the area interrupted the proposed start date, but the project eventually got rolling in late May.

Joshua, with help from fellow scouts and leaders from Troop 43, along with other helpers, cleared out and removed several compounded years of overgrown bushes, tree limbs, branches, debris and litter.  

In addition, reforming loop trails around the park was on the task list, as was pouring concrete in holes to secure a bench, and adding new mulch to the playground, along with raking and other cleanup and repairs.  

Troop Leader Steve Majka explained that Thomas organized all of the activities, made sure materials and tools were ready to go and arranged for hands to be available on workdays.  

Teamwork was an important element during countless hours of work, Majka remarked, and added, “Keeping the younger scouts motivated was also Thomas’ responsibility.” 

Jenny Alazate commented, “It’s incredible what Joshua Thomas and his helpers have done.”

Joshua shared, “It was a challenging project and I’m glad to be able to help my community,” adding, “I’m grateful to all of Boy Scout Troop 43 who assisted me in completing it.”

Interestingly, the Thomas and Alzate families did not know each other prior to the project, although now share a unique connection.  Jenny’s parents came to the U.S. from the Philippines more than three decades ago, and Joshua’s mother, Cindy Thomas, was born in the Philippines to American parents who worked there, and where she lived for her first 17 years.   

It is Jenny’s hope that the park will see new activity now and be taken care of.  If anything else, she commented, “It’s just a nice coincidence that worlds have collided because of this project.”

Majka shared that the Parks Department was responsive to the needs of the project and supplied mulch used inside the park, as well as provided a new rules sign that the scouts installed.  

The Owego Pennysaver reached out to the Town of Owego Parks Department for comment about the future care of the park but did not hear back prior to this story being published.