Scout working on River's Edge Park boardwalk

Visitors hiking through River’s Edge Park in Columbia Falls can soon do a little bird watching without getting their feet soaked.

Boy Scout Micah Sobczak has spent the better part of a week, along with help from his brother Caleb and father Carl, building a boardwalk along one of the park’s main ponds.

Micah is doing the work as part of his Eagle Scout requirements. When all is said and done, he’ll have spent about 10 days building the 260-foot boardwalk.

The walk follows an existing trail through a wet area along the pond. It’s a great place to look for warblers and other songbirds that frequent the area.

The boardwalk was designed by city councilor Darin Fisher, who is also a trail crew foreman for the Hungry Horse/Glacier View and Tally Lakes ranger districts.

The walk is made of treated lumber and is wired to gabions, a cage filled with rocks that supports the structure, which are sunk underground. The project was funded by a Plum Creek Foundation grant. Western Building Center provided materials as well.

Micah said the goal is to have the project done before school starts. He’s a senior at Columbia Falls High School.