The city of Buckley’s narrow strip of park along the Foothills Trail will likely gain a covered picnic shelter thanks to one construction-minded Eagle Scout candidate.

Zach Channon, 17, plans to build the four-post, shingle-roof shelter at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and South River Road, where city council authorized him, on to construct it. His original plan called for the structure to be built adjacent to the “Freedom Pole” veterans monument, but that design was reportedly nixed by Arts Commissioner Bob Olson, who had conflicting plans for the expansion of the monument’s brick walls. The structure will now sit roughly 600 feet northeast from the monument.

The construction is Channon’s Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. Service projects must serve the community, be completed with the scout in a planning and supervisory role only, and be completed by the scout’s 18th birthday.

In Channon’s case, the completion deadline is fast approaching for his January 11 birthday. Channon plans to gather his volunteers to build sometime in mid-December, he said.

“I’ve learned how much goes into planning a project like this,” Channon said. “And I”ve definitely learned procrastination does not help.”