Boy Scout Christopher Brown has received permission from the McMinnville Board of Mayor and Aldermen to renovate the entrance to Pistole Park as his Eagle Scout project.
“Currently I am working to achieve the rank of Eagle for Boy Scouts,” said Brown. “To earn the rank of Eagle, I am required to perform a service project. My current idea is to decorate the front entrance of Pistole Park Soccer Complex as it is currently needed. Since Pistole Park is city property, I am requesting approval for this project.”
The request was made last week.
“My plan includes leveling the ground, placing a border around the sign, installing shrubbery, and covering the entire area with decorative gravel,” said Brown. “As of right now, I have local business men who have agreed to donate almost all of the supplies that are needed. I do request the city provide two loads of dirt to level out the uneven ground.”
Pistole Park is owned by the city and operated by the Warren County Youth Soccer Association. Vice Mayor Ben Newman asked Brown if he has received approval from Warren County Youth Soccer Association president John Upchurch for the project.
“Yes sir,” said Brown. “Mr. Upchurch had hoped to have this project completed by the end of August.” 
The city has recently approved renovating one soccer field at a cost of $22,695 and awarded that project to Goldtree Landscape and Irrigation, owned by Robert Hennessee. Included in the project is excavation, grading, and sprigging the field with Bermuda grass. It also calls for Pistole Park to connect to Warren County’s water supply for irrigation of the field.
Future plans are to renovate one field at a time. Approved in the contract with Hennessee was a 2-inch water line for irrigation. The water line will be large enough to service all the fields, if needed, and will require digging a trench.
McMinnville Parks and Recreation director Scott McCord voiced concerns installation of the water line will go right through the renovation.
“I think this idea is great,” said McCord, of the Eagle Scout project. “I just want to remind you that county water is going to come right through there. They will be trenching. I just don’t want you to start and have them come through and rip it all up.”
Brown added, “We are aware of that. We have made plans to work around it.”
Board members unanimously approved the request. Voting in favor were Mayor Jimmy Haley, Vice Mayor Ben Newman and Aldermen Jimmy Bonner, Billy Wood, Mike Neal and Rick Barnes. Absent was Alderman Ken Smith.