Boy Scout brings bocce ball court to Hart Park in Wauwatosa

Hart Park now includes a bocce ball court thanks to the efforts of local Boy Scout Andrew Hruz's Eagle project.

Hart Park has benefited from six Eagle Scout projects in the past, with the bocce ball court being the latest, from Hruz and a group of Boy Scouts from Troop 125. The group raised funds, designed and supervised the construction of the new court.

Although the bocce ball court may appear to be a simple construction project, the project involved hours of planning to make the court "play" properly. The group of Boy Scouts saw to the proper draining of the court and the coordination of tradespeople needed to complete the project successfully.

"The new bocce ball court is a wonderful addition to the Senior Center. Because the court has a sidewalk around it, it is very accessible for all participants. The Senior Center is trying to increase the number of activities that are offered in the park and this is a fantastic start," Hart Park Senior Center director John Neumann said.

Hruz coordinated many activities to make the bocce ball court a reality, starting with funding for the project, which was provided by a donation from the Tony Geiger Family Foundation through the Wauwatosa Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1465. Contractors and vendors also donated their time, expertise and supplies to the project.

The planning for the project began fifteen months before groundbreaking, with multiple meetings between Hruz, the Wauwatosa Parks Board, city of Wauwatosa engineering staff, contractors and vendors.

Hruz and his fellow scouts excavated the plot and laid 13 cubic feet of limestone over a geo-textile membrane, which was carefully compacted, leveled and sloped in order for the court to drain into a neighboring rain garden.

The area was then surrounded by construction forms and concrete curbing was poured around the area. The turf was then nailed to the playing area, and the seams covered with roof ice dam material secured by Gorilla Glue. The team then landscaped the area to make it blend in with its surroundings.

The court includes a plaque honoring the Tony Geiger Family Foundation.