A plan to bring astronomy events to the Polk Township Walking Park is still in the works.

Claudio T. Stabile, a sophomore at Commonwealth Charter Academy, is working on his Eagle Scout project. He is a life Scout member in Troop 102 in Saylorsburg.

He wants to build a shed for a large telescope that rolls out. The shed would store other equipment for frequent nighttime sky viewing at the park.

Stabile first presented his idea to the supervisors at their November 2022 meeting.

“The supervisors were concerned about the flood plains, so we changed our location to the north field,” said Claudio M. Stabile, his father and Boy Scout volunteer.

The aspiring Eagle Scout returned Monday evening and told the supervisors that he would start building the shed and fundraising on June 10 - as soon as the school year ends. He will have it completed before school resumes.

“My project is to share my love of astronomy with Polk Township,” he said.

This love for viewing space, the planets and stars began when he was a kid.

“I received my first telescope for my seventh birthday. My family and I took it when we traveled and witnessed space’s beauty,” he said.

He and his father joined the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomy Society and have been hosting weekend astronomy events.

Robert Butler, chairman of the Polk Township Park and Recreation committee, said he, his daughters, and another family attended the astronomy club’s event on Feb. 24 in the walking park.

“It was a very cold day as we looked at several planets. Our committee recommends having another astronomy event,” Butler said.

Supervisors Brian Ahner, Carl Heckman and Michael Hurley voted to accept the updated proposal and review it before moving ahead.

“We appreciate your interest in astronomy and this project,” said Heckman.

In other business:

• Ahner said the road crew went to the Western Pocono Jaycee Memorial Park on Friday to rework the parking lot and they want to repave a section of the road at the park.

• The township will be advertising two projects for bid. The first is for shingles to replace the roof on the solid waste and recycling center. The second is to repave the area in front of the recycling center.

• The community is invited to the Veterans Memorial on Sunday, May 28 at 2 p.m. for the Memorial Day ceremony. During last year’s event, a new plaque was unveiled. The event is an opportunity for those who have not seen the plaque yet to see it, said Candy Burger, secretary of the Veterans Memorial commission. She also requested that the fire department close Trach Road during the event to ensure the safety of pedestrians.

• Volunteer Fire Department chief Billy Tippett said that the department is trying new ways to improve recruitment and retention. There is a volunteer shortage, he said.