By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Gavin Roessner is an overachiever.
For his Eagle Scout project, the sophomore at Bowling Green High School set a goal of collecting 800 pounds of plastic bottle caps.
“We got 1,200 pounds instead,” Gavin said with a smile. “They add up quickly.”
Those pounds of plastic were turned into four benches at the Wood County Plays inclusive playground at Carter Park in Bowling Green. The extra plastic caps were donated to Plastics-R-Unique, a company in Wadsworth, that will use them to make more benches.
Gavin’s project had dual goals.
First, better the environment.
“It feels pretty good that it’s helping the community recycle something and work on sustainability,” he said. “Recycling is good. We’re trying to come up with new ways to make the earth more healthy.”
And second, add to the inclusive playground.
“I think it’s amazing that they include everybody,” Gavin said of the new playground that can be used by people of all ages and abilities. “It’s a good addition to Bowling Green.”
The four benches are spaced out along the edges of the playground, so people – primarily parents – can sit and watch, Gavin said.
“I’m glad they can get a rest,” he said, glancing over to see two of his siblings playing on the swings. “They get to sit down a second and watch their children.”
Gavin was just 14 when he earned his Eagle Scout ranking with Troop 358 out of Portage.
“I’m the youngest one in my troop to get one,” he said.
On Tuesday as he talked about his project, Gavin turned 15. He would be “celebrating” his birthday by working at the Boy Scout’s corn-on-the-cob booth at the Wood County Fair later in the day.
Gavin’s bench project began with him setting up plastic cap collection boxes throughout the community – at the Vision Center, Ohio Department of Transportation Office, Wood County Senior Center, Church of the Nazarene, and United Methodist Church in Portage.
“The caps came in pretty quick,” especially at some collection sites, said Gavin’s mom, Kailee Roessner. “The senior center was on top of their game.”
Fellow troop members helped Gavin with sorting the caps, weighing them, and loading them onto a trailer headed to the recycling facility. It took two days to sort through the items gathered in the boxes, weeding out any trash, nozzles with springs or any metal.
“We got our hands dirty,” Gavin said.
The four benches at the playground bear inscriptions of their sponsors – two from the Bowling Green Women’s Club with one honoring Evelyn Bachman, the Rosebrock family, and Gavin’s uncle Greg Lindemeyer.
Being an overachiever, Gavin is still collecting caps that he will turn over to the Women’s Club to be used to make more benches.
“Now it’s our turn to collect the caps for the next group,” he said.
