McCook boy earning Eagle Scout rank through sand volleyball project

Friday, September 30, 2016
Isaiah Petty of McCook stands beside the new volleyball net at the Kelley Park sand volleyball court, shortly after completing the renovation. (Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- It took about eight hours of work on a sweltering Sunday, but a sand volleyball court at Kelley Park is now ready for action.

Isaiah Petty, 16, of McCook, significantly upgraded the sand volleyball court as an Eagle Scout project. He and his family, friends and Boy Scout Troop 1147 spent the day revamping the court that included extending the boundaries and installing professional boundary lines, moving dirt to level out the court and prevent sand washout, adding new railroad ties for boundaries, installing a snow fence to keep the ball out of the creek, filling the court with sand and putting up a new net.

"This project was a lot of work and took a lot of time, but I learned a lot while completing it," Petty said. "I learned the value of sticking with something and seeing it through to completion, even when I'm frustrated." Petty said the experience showed him that by serving his community, he's serving its people and honoring God.

Petty also said he was amazed by how the community stepped up to help him out. "There is no way I could have done this without the donations from the community," he said, citing the numerous contributions received for the project.

He also gave credit to his parents, Doug and Angel Petty, and to others who helped him complete the project: his scout leader, Adam Cunningham, other scouts with several of their parents and Caleb Morgan.

Petty said he chose the project because he likes to play the game and had heard that the court needed some work.

"The generosity of people in McCook make it a great place to live and I was honored to give back in this way," he said.

But, he hasn't been able to enjoy the fruits of his labor yet: Petty said with school, working with the scouts and as a member of the high school tennis team, he hasn't been able to play volleyball for while.

Those who donated to the renovation were:

City of McCook-snow fence and T-posts; Diamond Vogel-paint; Gerhold Concrete Co.-sand; Glass Express-boundary lines; Hegwood Concrete-rebar; JLB Welding-caps for the poles; Maris Construction-sand; McCook Lettering-plaque; Orscheln Farm and Home-railroad ties; Pepsi-bottled water; PLM Industries-equipment; Sports Shoppe-volleyball net.

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