Matthew Kinney, an Eagle Scout, recently completed his Eagle Scout Project while also improving a picnic area of Putney Woods.

Kinney, a Mukilteo resident, found an unused trail and picnic area in Putney Woods, which had grown over due to nature and disuse. A picnic table and benches were covered in moss, tree debris and spider webs. Kinney decided to “reclaim the area” and place a sign with a map of the trails at the trail cut off and name the picnic area after his grandfather, Gary Putney. It is now named “Gary Putney Picnic Point.”

Kinney said he received help during the project’s work day from Boy Scout families from Mukilteo and Everett, members of the Whidbey Wranglers 4-H Horse Club, the Island County Chapter of Back Country Horsemen and Putney Woods trail users.

Jan Van Muyden, superintendent of Island County Parks, also came with a tractor to tow out an old rusted Ford Escort that had been discarded behind the picnic area.

“Everyone worked together to clean up the trail head, clear the trail, remove fallen trees, dig the post holes, put up the sign, drag out the car and clean up the picnic area,” Kinney wrote in a press release.”

Kinney has since earned his Eagle Scout Boy Scout rank.