Scout seeking funds for wheelchair-accessible project at lake

Conifer High School senior Reggie Dickhoff is raising funds for an Eagle Scout project to build wheelchair-accessible picnic tables for the fishing deck at Evergreen Lake.

Reggie Dickhoff of Denver Area Council Troop 400 checks a railing at a handicapped accessible area at Evergreen Lake Park where he is planning to build picnic tables for an Eagle Scout project. Photo by Sandy Barnes

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According to his estimates, the project will cost $1,500, about a third of which Dickhoff already has received in donations. He is planning to place contribution jars at the Wulf and Buchanan rec centers this week.
Dickhoff said he got the idea for the picnic tables from Maren Schreiber, coordinator of the Evergreen Park and Recreation District’s Special Needs Program.
“We’ve already got an accessible route,” Dickhoff said about the site selected for the project.
The picnic tables will be designed with benches on one side only to accommodate wheelchairs on the other side, Dickhoff explained.
“Other Scouts are going to help me build it,” Dickhoff said.
Along with building the picnic tables, Dickhoff and others involved the project are planning to paint the deck. To protect the lake water, they will place a tarp underneath the deck while painting.
“Some of Maren’s kids will also be there,” he added.
Any unused funds will be donated to the EPRD Special Needs Program, Dickhoff said. “Basically, it’s better to overestimate than underestimate the costs,” he noted.
In addition to his scouting activities,
Dickhoff is a global messenger for Special Olympics.
“I spread the message of acceptance for all disabled people,” he said.
In this role, Dickhoff said, he visits local schools and talks about people with physical and mental disabilities and their needs.
After high school graduation, Dickhoff is planning to attend Metropolitan State College of Denver. He is the recipient of a Bootstraps scholarship to help with his college expenses.

Contact reporter Sandy Barnes at  HYPERLINK "mailto:sandy@evergreenco.com" sandy@evergreenco.com or call 303-350-1042.