Burrell Lake Park effort ‘the perfect project at the perfect time’

Cash Wyble just felt concertgoers should have a place to sit when enjoying a show at Burrell Lake Park in Lower Burrell.

Wyble, 18, of Upper Burrell recently assembled and installed benches in front of the concert venue at the park.

“I wanted to do it,” Wyble said. “There were benches there before, but they were falling apart.

“People were obligated to bring their own lawn chairs. There still should be a place to sit.”

Officials, though, say the work went beyond a comfortable seat.

Mayor Chris Fabry called Wyble’s work “the perfect project at the perfect time.”

“As the parks commission increases community events, the stage at Burrell Lake Park has become much more prominent,” Fabry said. “This project is perfect for those that come out to enjoy our Concerts in the Park series.”

Fabry equated Wyble’s project to the “if they build it, they will come” mentality.

This summer kicked off the inaugural concert series at the park. The next concert in the lineup will feature the Nicole Belli Trio on Sept. 13.

In addition, the city’s parks commission aims to boost its parks and events, which included a new Community Day and a Rally for Rescues event at K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park.

“As we continue to build up that park, more events will surely happen there,” Fabry said.

The effort was Wyble’s Eagle Scout project. He is a member of Birdville Troop 186 in Harrison. His grandfather, Barry Wetzel, was an Eagle Scout for the same troop.

“It’s a family thing,” Wyble said.

He said he was encouraged to take on the project at Burrell Lake Park because he and his friends fish there often, and it’s only five minutes from his home.

Wyble collected donations for the project in June. He, along with troop and family members, installed the benches Aug. 5.

Cash donations totaled $2,450, Wyble said. Businesses donated some of the materials.

“A lot of people from the community stepped up and helped in a big way,” he said.