A small community garden in River Forest will be the home of a new centerpiece that celebrates the village’s focus on family.
As a final act of service to reach the Eagle Scout rank, Adam Potter, a 17-year-old River Forest resident and Boy Scout, has spearheaded the creation and installation of a sundial and brick surround within a community herb garden at Augusta and Keystone avenues.
The sundial and bricks, which will be engraved with the names of River Forest families, should be installed in early October, said Mike Sletten, executive director of the River Forest Park District.
Potter said the idea started to take shape last fall; he then received approval from Eagle Scout officials and the River Forest Park District.
“It all kind of started with a bunch of small, little ideas that got put into this main one,” Potter said. “When thinking about what makes River Forest River Forest, it’s very family-based.”
Potter said he liked the idea of a sundial because it’s functional. When looking for a location, Potter reached out to Sletten.
The herb garden, built about five years ago, gets plenty of sun; Sletten said they were interested in a sculpture or something similar to highlight the small garden.
“Talking to Mike, he said it could really use something else,” Potter said. “A lot of people said they had really hoped something more could be done with the park.”
Sletten said they worked with Potter on the design of the sundial, which Potter said is 28 inches in diameter and cast in bronze.
It’s engraved with “Familia Ante Omnia,” Latin for family over all, and will be mounted on a limestone post, as a centerpiece within the herb garden, Potter said. Sletten said the post looks similar to those at the village’s other parks.
“Obviously, it’s going to be a community benefit for everyone,” Sletten said.
Bricks will surround the post; River Forest residents can purchase bricks and have their names engraved on them. As of Sept. 24, Potter had sold about 50 bricks; he hoped to reach 75 or 80.
“Probably more than half the bricks are from people I don’t directly know, which is exciting,” Potter said.
The park district contributed money and labor to the project, Sletten said, and Potter raised money for the project, which has cost just over $5,000 total.
Potter spent a few days with fellow Scouts drilling and pouring concrete for the foundation. He said the sundial’s time reading should be within about 20 minutes’ accuracy throughout the year.
Michael Harkins, scoutmaster for River Forest Troop 65, said Potter’s project represents the values of the community and the values of scouting.
“He truly is an exceptional Boy Scout and academic student. He’s really at the top of his mark,” Harkins said. “He took on a real sizable project that’s going to mean a lot to the community.”
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Potter, who’s been involved with scouting since he was 6 years old, said it feels great to see his plan come to fruition, and to think about what the space will mean to future generations of River Forest residents.
“That’s really incredible to know that I was part of that,” Potter said.
Those who’d like to purchase a brick or make a donation can do so at www.rfgardensundial.weebly.com.
Caitlin Mullen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.