Softball players at Mount Airy’s Westwood Park will enjoy a better playing environment this year, thanks to the initiative taken by a local Boy Scout.

Austin Handy, a member of Troop 556, decided to tackle a major improvement to the dugouts at the park as his Eagle Scout project, which will keep players both drier and cooler during the season as a result.

The two lighted softball fields there are home to both men and women’s softball leagues operated through the city parks and recreation department, and also host various tournaments. This means the facilities on Galax Trail are used heavily during the warmer months, including on weekends.

However, Handy became aware of certain deficiencies of the dugouts relative to the weather.

“Many athletes using the facility have said things about the heat and sun while they are playing,” he explained. Also, softball games have had to be stopped when it rained.

“They said that having roofs for the dugouts would be a very nice enhancement to the park and make the games more fun and enjoyable,” the scout added. “With the roofs on the dugouts, they would be able to seek shelter in them and stay dry as long as there was no lightning present.”

His awareness of the need prompted the youth to embark on a project to cover all four dugouts of the two fields, which also would involve members of his troop and family contributing to its successful execution.

Nearly 75 hours was spent on the work, with the dimensions for each of the dugouts 28 feet, 8.5 inches long, 7 feet wide and 8 feet tall.

City recreation officials are happy about the latest Boy Scout project to benefit Mount Airy’s parks, with previous projects involving the placement of markers on the walking trail at Westwood Park and amenities for the greenway system.

“We are pleased and proud to be the beneficiary of such an amazing Eagle Scout project,” Recreation Director Catrina Alexander said of the recent effort by Handy and his helpers.