Fayette Community Hospital now has an outside haven for

visitors and staff to enjoy, thanks to Peachtree City Boy Scout

Blake Bowler and a host of hard-working supporters.

A mulch-paved path around the pond located at the rear of

the medical facility provides a quiet spot to walk, meditate or

picnic. Four wood and wrought iron benches are situated beside

the water's edge. Several nuttall oak saplings will eventually grow

tall enough to supply a bit of shade on warm days.

The pond beautification is Bowler's Eagle Scout

project which was completed recently with the help of about 39

scouts, Key Club members from McIntosh High School, and parents

from Troop 181 where Bowler is an Eagle Scout candidate.

According to hospital administrator Tracey Coker, this is

the first Eagle Scout project completed at the new community

hospital. "This is a much-needed addition to the area," Coker said.

Bowler, 14, and an eighth-grader at J.C. Booth

Middle School, came up with the project idea around July. With some

guidance from his parents, Joe and Holly Bowler, the plan took

shape. "This turned out to be a real community project," Bowler's

mother said, ticking off the names of individuals and businesses

who pitched in.

Bowler succeeded in pulling off the complete job for $104.

"I want to thank the businesses who contributed to this project," he

said. Lowe's gave Bowler a deep discount on the benches;

Nature's Nursery's Labor Day sale helped supply the trees; and Publix,

A&P and CiCi's Pizza provided food and drinks for the 40-plus

volunteers who showed up to work clearing weeds, planting the trees

and assembling the benches.

"I'm pleased with the results," Bowler said. He has already

had some positive feedback as well from an adult scouter,

Tom Conrad, who saw the pond while visiting his mother who was

recently hospitalized. "He told me he really liked it," Bowler reported.

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