Dietzenbach finishes Eagle Scout project at East Park

CRESCO - East Park in Cresco is boasting a new GaGa Ball Pit thanks to the Eagle Scout Project of Nick Dietzenbach.

GaGa Pit you say? What’s that? Dietzenbach explained. “It’s like dodge ball, but is played on the ground. It can be better for littler kids.” The pit will also have balls available, or players can bring their own. It was constructed on Aug. 2.

Nick, the son of local Cub Scout leader Don Dietzenbach and wife, Kris of Cresco, decided he wanted to do the GaGa Ball Pit about two years ago, after playing the game at Boy Scout Camp (Howard H. Cherry Scout Reservation, near Central City). “It was a very fun game that you could play with a lot of kids, and there was nothing like that in Cresco.” 

He started researching what it would take to build the pit, researched the brackets and decided to have Alum-Line manufacture them and began to consider ways to raise the funds he needed. 

Nick received a Howard County Community Foundation grant (through the American Legion, the sponsor for the local Boy Scout Troop #63) for half of the amount he needed and proceeded with an additional 12 businesses and personal sponsors.

Once he finalized gathering the materials, he chose the build date and lined up volunteers from Troop 63, as well as family and friends, to help build the project. 

The soon-to-be Eagle Scout will be putting a sign on his project, thanking all those who helped fund/build his project. He noted, “There was one Scout and his family from Troop 63, and our family and one set of grandparents, as well as a couple friends of mine who helped with the building.”

In the past he has helped with others’ Eagle projects, including Zach Dietz’s painting of the Lime Springs fire hydrants and Justin Kerian’s project of putting up a sign at the Norman Borlaug farm near Protivin.

One of the requirements of being an Eagle Scout is to collect at least 21 merit badges. Nick’s favorite merit badge was one he just took at scout camp last month — Rifle Shooting. He says his most useful merit badge was First Aid.

His mother, Kris, said, “I am very proud of the young man Nick is becoming. He knew right from the start what he wanted to do for his Eagle Scout project and has seen his idea through right to the end. Becoming an Eagle Scout is a huge undertaking that helps develop a boy’s skill in thinking critically and creating a project, personal communication and leadership. An Eagle Scout candidate also has to take a number of required Merit Badge classes on various subjects, which help the scout become a knowledgeable, helpful and more worldly citizen.”

Don was Nick’s Cub Master’s 10 years ago. Another of Don’s Scouts, Justin Kerian, recently earned his Eagle Scout Award. The ceremony was Sunday, July 28. Don says of his son, “Nick is a focused young adult and put in a lot of hours, attended two Park and Rec board meetings and did a great job directing the project.”

Nick says, “I’m very proud of how my project turned out! I’m also relieved at having this project completed at such a young age.” He will turn 18 in September 2020, which is when his project and other prerequisites are due. 

He still has some requirements to complete before he can become an Eagle Scout, but the project was a good thing to get checked off the list!