This summer, Tristan Jor-L Salas, a dedicated Boy Scout from Wheeler's Troop 472, took on a monumental task for his Eagle Scout project: establishing new walking trails at Tom Britt Memorial Park. Tristan will join many Eagle Scouts (yes, he is an official Eagle Scout!) before him in building up Tom Britt Memorial Park. Gavin McQueen was the first contributor, as he took on the project of constructing the first East entrance gate, when it was merely Tom Britt Field. Landry Umsted was the first to renovate Tom Britt Field to Tom Britt Park. He also constructed new gates and build the East entrances again, Michael Reeves followed suit by constructing the Northwest entrance. Bryce Richardson had hand in building the fence around the current T-ball field. Dylan Marshall was a major player in running electricity to the existing scoreboard on the soccer field and erecting the two scoreboards for the two baseball fields, complete with electricity.
This project wasn’t just about enhancing a community space—it was about honoring the legacy of past Eagle Scouts from Troop 472 and paying tribute to Tom Britt and his family. Tom Britt, one of our local heroes, has long been remembered through the park that bears his name, and Tristan’s work stands as a testament to the enduring respect the Wheeler community holds for a man that devoted his life to his community and to the youth.
The project was no small feat. Under the sweltering summer sun, Tristan and his fellow scouts from Troop 472, including their Boy Scout Adult Leaders (Ben Ed Hillhouse, Steve Marshall, Ryan McNeil and Mack Marshall) spent many hot days digging over 250 post holes, laying 2,000 ft of landscape timber and installing them with 16” strips of 2” flat strap metal. This labor-intensive work was worth 250+ man hours to complete. Like many of Wheeler Boy Scout's before Tristan, projects like these are driven by a commitment to preserving the memory of Tom Britt and bettering the community.
The walking trails are just one part of the larger transformation happening at Tom Britt Memorial Park. Over the past year, the park has been a hub of activity, with numerous projects aimed at improving the space for the entire community. Alongside Tristan’s efforts, new sprinklers are being installed on the baseball fields, and 80 trees have been planted throughout the park as an Earth Day event. The park has also been a bustling venue for Wheeler Sports games and practices, bringing the community together.
Reflecting on his project, Tristan expressed gratitude for the support he received:
“We have been allocated the appropriate resources from the City of Wheeler, and I think they recognize the significance of this project... they have been generous in providing support.” - Tristan Salas
Tristan’s project is a shining example of what can be achieved when a community comes together to honor its history while building towards a brighter future. As Tom Britt Memorial Park continues to grow and flourish, it will stand as a lasting tribute to the efforts of Tristan Salas and Troop 472, as well as to the enduring legacy of Tom Britt himself.
When asked about his time in Boy Scouts, Tristan had this to say:
“Throughout my years of scouting, I have learned a lot about morality and principals... but I think the most important aspect of it all was the friendships I made along the way.”
Tristan will be attending the McCombs School of Business in Austin, Texas in the Fall of 2024. He is pursuing a minor in Entrepreneurship and hopefully declaring a major in Finance the following year.
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