The Sean McArdle Eagle Scout Project at the James Swamp Recreation Area.  Summer, 2008

This Open Space and Trails Project began with a site visit and discussion with representatives from both the North Andover Conservation Commission and The Friends Group on how Sean could make a difference in the community by providing improvements to The James Swamp Recreation Area located on Johnson Street adjacent to the Reynolds Sports Fields.  By first identifying the immediate needs of the James Swamp Recreation Area it was determined that a network-wide sweep of all the trails would be needed along with the placement of color coded trail blaze markers. This would make up the initial effort towards earning his Eagle Scout Badge. This trailwork was coupled with the creation of a new trail approximately 300' in length adjacent to Mosquito Brook to a newly created  picnic & seating area complete with picnic tables for a wonderful brookside experience.

The project did not end there but was completed through the construction of a wooden footbridge that crosses a nearby seasonal hydrologic connector or stream that drains directly into Mosquito Brook. 

The newly created Scout Trail connects one previous Eagle Scout project (The existing Mosquito Brook Footbridge) to the picnic area approximately 300' downstream.

The immediate area adjacent to Mosquito Brook was sensitively creared to create a unique woodland picnic setting and wood chips spread to keep vegetation from reclaiming the area.

The new footbridge awaits the rainy spring season and excess stormwater runoff.

A newly installed blue trail blaze marker represent the Connector Trail at James Swamp.

It is through Eagle Scout projects such as Sean McArdle's that provides valuable asistance to The Friends of North Andover Trails Group in the annual maintenance of the town's open space & recreation areas. The citizen's of North Andover are also on the recieving end of many important improvements that an Eagle Scout candidate can make while earning his final badge to complete a fulfilling scouting experience.  Our personal thanks go out to Sean for all his hard work and due diligence.