Eastern Pulaski High School Junior Shawn Pratt presented a proposed Eagle Scout project to the Winamac Park Board members last week.
Pratt, who is a member of the Winamac Boy Scout Troop #229, wants to build three gaga ball courts, or pits, in the Winamac Town Park. He said the courts are shaped in an octagon with walls that are about three feet high. The entire pit can be up to 25 feet wide.
Pratt explained that gaga ball is a variation of dodgeball.
“Every player has to be touching the wall to start out with, and one person has the ball, it can be a kickball or volleyball and the game begins with someone throwing the ball up on the air. The first bounce everyone says ‘ga’ and then on the second bounce everybody says ‘ga’, so ‘ga ga’ and then on the third bounce you say ‘ball’ and then the game begins. The objective of the game is to hit people below the knee with the ball.”
Once the ball is in play, any player can hit the ball with an open or closed hand to hit another player below the knees, but the ball cannot be picked up and thrown. The player leaves the pit once he or she is hit with the ball and waits for the game to conclude before the next round begins.
Pratt noted that a pit is currently located at the Eastern Pulaski Elementary School, but he wants to construct pits in the park.
It was suggested that one pit be constructed in Rhinehart Park and two be constructed by the volleyball courts in the Winamac Town Park. The park board members are in the middle of designing the Frisbee golf course, which is part of the Land and Water Conservation Grant. When that design is finished, a placement of the pits could be better planned in the Town Park.
The park board has a little bit of time to review the proposal as Pratt has two years to complete the Eagle Scout project. If the park board initially agrees to allow Pratt to move forward with the project, then he will send the proposal to the Boy Scouts of America who will determine if it qualifies as an Eagle Scout project. When the Boys Scouts of America approves the project, then Pratt can start raising funds to build the pits and finalize plans for approval by the park board.
The members said they would discuss it again at their next meeting in August.
