Culver City Observer -

By David W. Myers

Special to The Observer

The long and narrow yard that fronts the Culver-Palms YMCA on Sepulveda Boulevard is getting a much-needed makeover, thanks to an ambitious project launched by a local Boy Scout.

The project is the brainchild of Culver City Troop 113’s Daniel Feifer, 17, and is his final step toward obtaining the Boy Scouts of America’s vaunted Eagle Scout ranking.

More than two dozen scouts and parents recruited by Feifer braved a steady drizzle last Saturday morning to begin the work. The volunteers labored until late afternoon to remove virtually all of the yard’s aging foliage and then prepping the soil so new, more drought-resistant and water-saving vegetation such as cactus and ferns could be planted.

Work continued on Sunday and, after a break for Easter, will be completed the following weekend.

A key feature of the revamped garden will be a meandering walking path that will enable passersby to get a brief but up-close brush with nature. The walkway, which will run through the yard from the YMCA’s driveway on the south side of the building to the parking lot on the north, will be built of eco-friendly but highly durable decomposed granite.

Feifer said he chose the YMCA as the beneficiary of his Eagle Scout project in part because “it has given so much joy and happy memories to thousands of people in our community.”

The teen is also recently completed his one-year term as Vice President of the YMCA’s Youth and Government, a statewide program that provides high schoolers the opportunity to learn about the political process and discuss current issues with local and state administrators and elected officials.

Feifer is the youngest son of Chris and Brad Feifer, both of whom have long been active in the scouting community.

Only one percent of the millions of youths who join Scouting each year eventually reach an Eagle ranking. To do so, they must earn at least 21 merit badges, provide numerous hours of service to their community and demonstrate leadership to their peers and troop leaders.

Perhaps the toughest requirement, though, is to organize and manage a large, service-oriented project that involves fellow Scouts and other volunteers.

The youngest Feifer will graduate from Culver City High in June. He plans to attend either USC or to join his older brother, Cayden, at New York’s Syracuse University to study biomedical engineering and eventually become a doctor.