News

One of Sound Rivers’ Tar-Pamlico Water Trail camping platforms got a makeover thanks to the Boy Scouts.

(Scroll down to see the before and after photos!)

Led by Brayden Burdette, of Boy Scout Troop 9 in Greenville, scouts and their leaders took on the task of some much-needed repairs for the Tim Barkley Memorial Platform, located about a mile downstream from Port Terminal.

The nephew of Sound Rivers Program Director Clay Barber, Brayden took on the restoration as his Eagle Scout project.

“It’s a very refreshing re-start for a platform that has been one of our most visited platforms over the years because of its proximity to Port Terminal and Greenville,” Clay said.

On June 7-8, a squad of Brayden’s Scout friends and a couple of their leaders replaced all of the platform’s screens with a double layer — fine screen to keep out bugs and chicken wire to prevent damage from debris. They replaced the screen door, a rotten deck board and built a handrail, in addition to building an 8-foot picnic table that is now bolted to the platform.

“We want to see people using this platform, and this is a great renovation,” Clay said. “I think it will be a good flagship platform to serve as a standard for what we want to see with future platform repairs, as well as a good model for how it gets done. So, shout out to Scouts for doing such a great job!”

Lowe’s Home Improvement pitched in for the project, giving Brayden an enormous discount on supplies, while Marabella Old World Pizza and Bill’s Hot Dogs (both in Greenville) donated lunch for the crew on Saturday and Sunday.

The Barkley platform is located on Barber Creek, a tributary of the Tar River, and is the last camping platform “for 20-something miles before you get to the Cypress Hideaway platform in Washington,” Clay said.

A huge thank you goes out to Brayden, his fellow Scouts and leaders, Lowe’s, Marabella, Bill’s Hot Dogs and Greenville Utilities (which owns the land) from Sound Rivers!

If you’re a Scout, or know a Scout, looking for volunteer hours for a project, Sound Rivers would appreciate the help. Email Volunteer Coordinator Emily Fritz at emily@soundrivers.org!