Boy Scout Michael Beskid and Troop 525 built a bridge over the Black Brook at Rensselaer Land Trust’s Robert P. Ingalls Nature Preserve for his Eagle Scout Project. [private]
The foot bridge opens up the majority of the preserve for the public and makes available a new trail for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, dog walking and nature enjoyment. This bridge benefits the public by enabling public access to new trails on the far side because the Black Brook does not freeze over.
Forty people attended the Saturday November 7 thank you, recognition and garland cutting ceremony. An Eagle Scout Project must benefit the community and show leadership skills. Michael designed the bridge, chose the location, contacted all government agencies concerning permit needs, raised funds for the materials, negotiated with building supply companies, organized the work days, oversaw his fellow scouts and built the bridge.
The Robert P. Ingalls Nature Preserve is a very pretty wooded preserve bisected by the Black Brook. It is owned and operated by the Rensselaer Land Trust and is the only public open space area or park for Stephentown, New York. The preserve is free to the public for catch and release fishing, hiking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, dog walking, and nature study and enjoyment. It is located on Garfield Road just south of the intersection with Horse Heaven Road.
Rensselaer Land Trust is a 501c3 not-for-profit land trust, founded in 1987. Our mission is to conserve the open spaces, watersheds and natural habitats of Rensselaer County for the benefit of our communities and future generations.
For more information see: http://www.renstrust.org or call 659-LAND (5263). Offices are located at 415 River Street in downtown Troy, New York 12180.[/private]