Rising to the Challenge in Woodbury

Recess is a little more fun at New Life Academy in Woodbury after the efforts of one of its students.

Some paint, cement and a little elbow grease capped off an Eagle Scout projected completed by Brannon Goodbar, a 16-year-old junior from Woodbury.

Joined by friends, family and New Life Academy staff, Brannon painted lines for four-square courts, kickball, hopscotch and basketball, and built two new pull-up bars. When they had a little extra cement, he decided to put in a tetherball pole, as well.

“They really love it,” Brannon said of his fellow students. “It’s like, I made all this happen, and it’s just awesome. … I’m very proud of it.”

Ironically, Brannon’s father, NLA Elementary Principal Brian Goodbar, completed similar work at a playground for his Eagle Scout project years ago in California.

“But I don’t think I installed any major equipment,” Brian said.

He said he was impressed with his son’s efforts.

“Watching the kids just take to it and enjoy it—it’s very rewarding,” Brian said.

The pull-up bars proved to be the hardest part of the project, said Brannon, part of Troop 559 based out of Woodbury Lutheran Church.

“These were such a pain to put in,” he said Tuesday at the playground area at New Life Academy. “They were heavy.”

With a father and uncle who are both Eagle Scouts, Brannon said he wanted to carry on the family tradition.

“I want to be an Eagle Scout, and this is part of becoming in Eagle Scout,” he said.

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