Posted on Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 4:09 p.m.
Ypsilanti Boy Scout aims to raise $11K for repairs at Candy Cane Park
By Katrease Stafford
An Ypsilanti Boy Scout is raising funds to go toward renovating the Candy Cane Park tennis courts, the Ypsilanti Courier reports.
Candy Cane Park
Courtesy of the city of Ypsilanti
The city shuttered its parks and recreation department in 2003.
Denoyer estimates the total cost of the project to be $11,900 and he expects to raise all of the funds through fundraising. He hopes to finish his project before December.
Candy Cane is a 7 acre neighborhood park in the northwest corner of Ypsilanti. The park has a baseball field, tennis courts, play equipment and picnic facilities.
Read the full story here.
Comments
PattyinYpsi
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.
When I scrolled down to the comments on this story, I couldn't understand why there were so many comments that had been removed. Here's a kid trying to do good work in his cash-strapped community. What could possibly....? Oh. Right. In the AA.com comments section, everything is turned into politics, and all tpics will be hijacked so that people can spew their hatred for one side or the other. What a shame. I can just imagine how disappointed Zach must be, reading the comments about this story. Zach, good for you! And thanks for caring about the neighborhood.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.
Must toe the Ann Arbor line or you will be scorned. Don't you dare think for yourself or hold a differing opinion.
EM
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.
Pseudo, even though you may disagree with BSA policies on a number of issues, I respect your view and thank you for offering to help this young man with his service to his community. Yes, we all have beefs with the various organizations for whatever reasons and helping this young man accomplish his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout, when in fact you may not feel that same goal is good for you or your family, is the right way to look at it. Help the community and make it a better place. I have been involved with many the Eagle Scout projects over the years and I know for sure that all funds donated to the project go toward the project. Any funds left over when the project is complete, per BSA guidelines, go back to the "benefiting" organization, which in this case is the City of Ypsilanti Parks Department. Finally, per BSA advancement guidelines, here are a few tidbits of info to clarify: A - "While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. The project must benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting." B - "The Scout must make it clear to all donors or event participants that the money is being raised on behalf of the project beneficiary, which will retain leftover funds. Should any donors want documentation of a gift, this must be provided through the project beneficiary, not the Boy Scouts of America. Once collected, money raised must be turned over for deposit to an account of the beneficiary or the candidate's unit, until needed for the project. If the unit receives the funds, it must release them to the beneficiary once expenses have been paid."
NoPC
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
Leave it to Ann Arbor to rain on someone trying to make a positive difference in Ypsilanti and turn it political. I can't stand the arrogance and hypocrisy of Ann Arbor, even though I've lived in the area for 23 years, many within the city limits. If you don't like the Boy Scouts... ignore them. But, pat this kid on the back for doing a really good deed.
pseudo
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 11:22 a.m.
Zach - great project! Candy Cane needs the help and its a fun park for the neighborhood. I admit to being torn - Nationally the Boy Scouts are terrible bigots and just reaffirmed their bigoted stance. Further, by scapegoating gays and atheists, they hid and protected pedophiles they actually knew about. The is why so many Eagle Scouts and turned their Eagles back in. Locally I know the Dens and Packs are open and friendly as long as they don't have to report too closely to the Great Sauk Trail Council which has its issues as well. Can someone tell me if I donate to Zack's project specifically, will it be used beyond that to support that council or boy scouts nationally (which is what I really want to avoid)? o?r will it be used for just that project?
michael Limmer
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 11:43 p.m.
The money can only go to the project, any excess funds must be given to the benefiting organization which would be. I believe, the city rec department, or the city itself. As an active member in Scouting, it does grieve me to have the organization ban gays. That said, I believe that change is coming in a couple of years, which is not soon enough, but it IS coming.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
Data for that is where? Anyway, turning it in doesn't do anything other than make somebody feel good about themselves somehow. The BSA didn't give it to the Scout, the Scout earned it, and that never changes regardless of whether he keeps the trinket made of ribbon and metal. Giving it back only shows the Scout hasn't matured enough to understand that.
pseudo
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
actually more than 1000 so far. not a few dozen. and its not stopping and may be growing.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 12:45 p.m.
"So many?" Like a few dozen, out of hundreds of thousands.
Jeffersonian Liberal
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 10:29 a.m.
I'm guessing the progressive haters have crawled out from under their rocks to denigrate this fine young man. If the government isn't there to confiscate your neighbors wealth, you Lib's will just sit on your butts and watch the weeds take over.
PattyinYpsi
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 2:09 p.m.
This is a ridiculous comment. As a progressive who lives in the Candy Cane Park neighborhood, I can tell you that the people who volunteer to maintain the park do it out of love for the community, and I've never heard anyone ask another volunteer about their political affiliation or sexual orientation or religion. So shame on you, Jeff "Liberal." Maybe you'd have a better understanding of the world if you walked away from your computer once in a while and picked up a rake or a shovel and planted some flowers or mowed the grass in your own neighborhood.
brian
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 3:03 a.m.
I love Candy Cane park, played ball there when I grew up.
M
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 1:45 a.m.
Why does Ann Arbor celebrate an organization that proudly discriminates against gays and atheists?
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
M, if you voted for Obama in 2008, which I'm pretty sure is a safe assumption, then you voted for a candidate who was against gay marriage.
The82Wolverine
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 2:07 a.m.
Discriminates against atheists? Seriously? That's hilarious.
M
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 2:07 a.m.
No. I fail to see how that relates?
lynel
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 10:02 p.m.
I was going to ask where donations could be made then checked the Courier article. So that would be: "Denoyer said any personal donations to his project should be sent to his home address, 1736 Whittier, and checks should be written to Troop 290."
Unusual Suspect
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 9:52 p.m.
Great idea, Zachary. I hope it goes well!
xmo
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 9:46 p.m.
At least a positive story about Ypsilanti. Sounds like a noble project hopefully the community will back him!
The82Wolverine
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 : 9:23 p.m.
This young man is out doing something to make his community better, and you're sitting in your basement doing nothing. He wins.
M
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 2:06 a.m.
Hating gays and atheists is pretty ugly stuff. The path to hell is paved with good intentions.
M
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 1:49 a.m.
Straw man, so are you. Doesn't mean that what he's doing isn't building a bigger, brighter future where we're free to hate gays and atheists. That is part of Boy Scouts, and any action the organization takes, no matter how noble, is repulsive.