Neighbor News
Eagle Scout rebuilds trail next to Hardy Pond
The Mayor joined Tyler, his family, troop members, and the Waltham Land Trust, to celebrate the trail at Smith Point and Tyler's hard work.
On Saturday, May 15th, the community took time to thank Tyler Mailman of Waltham Scout Troop 2500, for rebuilding the trail at Smith Point, his Eagle Scout project. Smith Point is a natural woodland, owned by the Waltham Land Trust (WLT), and open to the public, on Waltham’s Hardy Pond.
Tyler’s family, members of his Scout troop, and Mayor Jeanette McCarthy, along with members of the Waltham Land Trust and the Hardy Pond Association (HPA), conveyed their appreciation. After a symbolic ribbon cutting, the crowd gave a hearty three cheers for Tyler.
Tyler said he has a passion for the outdoors. Working his way up through the Scouts, he considered what service project he could do that would be meaningful and enjoyable. He learned Waltham Land Trust (WLT) trail stewards were removing invasive plants and replacing them with natives, including at Smith Point on Hardy Pond. When he visited Smith Point, Tyler noticed the rough and overgrown condition of the trail. He proposed to better define, widen and smooth the path, and to build a boardwalk, to Sonja Wadman, WLT Executive Director, to WLT Steward, Betty MacKenzie, and to the Hardy Pond Association. They agreed it would be a wonderful contribution.
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Taking on this job meant Tyler had to learn and hone skills, navigating various problems and finding solutions. He learned to orchestrate a large group via email (especially important during the pandemic) and was pleased with the support from his troop’s families and friends, and from WLT stewards.
When the project was done, overhanging and encroaching brush was cleared. Large rocks protruding up along the path were pulled out by Tyler and the Scouts; these now border the path. And, lastly, Tyler and his crew, with the help of an experienced carpenter and donated wood from Waltham Lumber, built a boardwalk on a section of the trail that often floods.
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Smith Point now has an easy way to see the pond and its wildlife. The Waltham Land Trust and the Hardy Pond community will be enjoying Tyler’s contributions for many years, and say “Thank-you, Tyler!”
To access Smith Point, go to the end of Lakeview Terrace where it ends at Hardy Pond. Take a right and follow the pond a few hundred feet. The rebuilt trail begins at the edge of the woods, just past a granite post marking the boundary of the Smith Point Conservation Area.