Eagle Scout project Beautifies New London

NEW LONDON - Fourteen-year-old Boy Scout Simon Scott helped beautify New London for its sesquicentennial celebrations next summer by installing the first set of window boxes in front of 14 downtown New London shops and merchants.
Scott’s beautification effort is his Eagle Scout project.
The Eagle Scout rank is the highest honor awarded a Boy Scout. To earn this award, the Scout must earn at least 21 merit badges and plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project that is beneficial to the community, school or church.
Scott’s window boxes are also a part of an ongoing initiative in New London started by Community in Action; a group that is constantly trying to make New London a better and more beautiful place to live.
“We found a way to beautify the city and give jobs to the community.” said community in action downtown beautification leader Barb Neimczyk “It has been a great experience for Simon  to design and manage a project like this. It has also been great to see area merchants, plant nurseries and local residents work together to make a project like this possible.”
Scott and his three older Eagle Scout brothers installed durable PVC planter boxes over the course of three weeks. The other half of Scott’s project included creating a schedule for the New London Garden Club to plant the flowers and supervising the members planting the flowers.
Other projects planned for the community to complete before next summer include installation of flower boxes on the remaining downtown merchants and renovating public parks and beaches in New London.