Parks board approves Eagle Scout plan to install bat boxes along Big 4 Trail

The Lebanon Board of Parks Commissioners voted to approve an Eagle Scout project to install bat boxes along the Big 4 Trail.

Noah Haas, an Eagle Scout candidate from Troop 359, told the board he mapped proposed locations along the trail and plans to hang boxes on existing poles. "Each little bat box is gonna be hung along 1 of the code line poles," he said, and confirmed the boxes will be made of wood. Haas told the board he had identified about 12 locations and would run a fundraiser to cover costs.

Board members asked about materials, who would install the boxes and long-term maintenance. Haas said scouts would build and hang the boxes and that "they might have to get replaced or hung back up" if damaged. A board member asked Haas to email a diagram of the proposed box plans to the board for review; Haas provided a small diagram during his presentation.

A motion to approve the bat-box project was made and seconded; the board voted in favor and the motion carried.

Why it matters: The board’s approval gives Haas permission to place structures on city-managed trail infrastructure and starts the coordination required between the scout project and parks maintenance. The board did not adopt any new maintenance program or budget for the boxes during the meeting.

Board members directed Haas to provide plans and to coordinate installation timing with parks staff. The approval is limited to the permission granted at the meeting; no additional funding or long-term maintenance commitment was adopted.