Bethel Park student builds playground for Eagle Scout project
Sam Gobbie and Alice Neishloss discuss details of the playground being constructed at St. Valentine Catholic Church.
Emily Fleming watches her grandfather, Eric Neishloss work on the roof of a playhouse being built at the new playground at St. Valentine Catholic Church.
Sam Gobbie has attended St. Valentine Catholic Church in Bethel Park since he has been a young boy – he went to pre-school there and is an alter server. St. Valentine has played and continues to play a big role in his life.
So when it came time for Gobbie, now 17, to think about his Eagle Scout project, his thoughts naturally turned to St. Valentine.
“About this time last year, Sam’s mother mentioned he had to do an Eagle Scout project,” said Judy Mills, director of St. Valentine’s Pre-School. Mills, Sam’s mother, Lisa Gobbie, and Sam put their heads together and came up with the idea of building a playground for the 65 or so children that attend pre-school at St. Valentine.
Gobbie, a member of Troop 228 out of Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park, went to talk to his scout master, Dave Kraska, who gave him the green light.
“I thought it was a great idea,” said Kraska, who, along with his scout troop and volunteers, spent a recent Saturday helping Gobbie with his project.
To become an Eagle Scout, the highest honor in scouting, a person needs to earn a minimum of 21 merit badges and demonstrated leadership. The scout must also do a service project that benefits his community, church or school.
St. Valentine closed its school several years ago, but kept its pre-school open. Mills said the children have no safe place to go outside and play, something she shared with the Gobbies. Sam said he loved the idea and began planning the playground, which is being built on a 50×70 foot fenced-in area behind the school.
Still, like with any community project, there needs to be a backer. In Sam’s case, that’s Eric and Alice Neishloss of Mt. Lebanon, the founders of Neishloss & Fleming Inc., a Mt. Lebanon insurance brokerage that represents more than 50 carriers.
Alice Neishloss said she heard about Sam’s project through Victor Molka, the pastor at St. Valentine, and immediately became interested in helping the playground become a reality. Alice and her husband were instrumental in helping to get Miracle League Field in Boyce Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair constructed several years ago.
“When Mom and Dad look at a pre-school and there is no outside space, they move on,” explained Alice, who is now retired. “So, I got on the Internet and began looking at Pinterest.”
Eric Neishloss said he and his wife believe in the concept of paying it forward and were happy to assist Sam with financing, ideas and labor. They are also donating a handicap ramp to the church.
“We worked hard a lot of years and now it is time to pay it forward,” he said.
Through Neishloss & Fleming Inc., which provided around $15,000 for the playground, as well as donations and deep discounts from various companies, Sam began work on his idea.
Plans for the playground include a tire serpent, a car, a play kitchen complete with pots and pans, a ball maze using PVC pipes, a playhouse and a sailboat. Bruce Evanovich Landscaping in Bethel Park installed the tires for the serpent and prepared the plots for the playground equipment – for free, Alice said. Also, Alan Habovich, owner of A. Habco Contracting, lent his expertise to the project.
“I’ve known Alice for 20 years and she asked me to participate,” Habovich said. “I was happy to do so.”
The playground itself should be ready for the children by the time pre-school begins Sept. 8, said Mills as she, along with Lisa Gobbie, watched Sam and his fellow scouts work.
“I am really proud of him,” said Lisa of Sam, a junior at Bethel Park High School. “I am glad he decided to do a playground. I think it is wonderful.”
Sam said he hopes to become an Eagle Scout early next year.
“I have been in scouts a long time,” he said. “Colleges and people will see that on my application and resume.”
While college is still a couple of years away, Sam said he went to visit St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe and that he is also interested in Duquesne University.
“I might study something like history,” he said.