By REID TUCKER
It’s hard to imagine a more tranquil spot than the reading garden just outside the Walton County Library, which makes it just about the perfect location for a game of chess.
At least that’s what Evan Cowie, a member of the local Boy Scouts Troop 525, had in mind when he got the idea to build the 800-pound concrete chess board/picnic table combo that now sits in the garden. Cowie presented the table to the city at a July 31 dedication ceremony around Lake DeFuniak, capping off a year’s worth of work on the project. He said the table and bench set lived up to the goals of the Eagle Scout program by being something that gives back to the community.
“I wanted to make something that was a worthwhile contribution to our community,” Cowie said of his work. “This is for anybody who walks by to sit down, play a game of chess and enjoy the scenery of the lake.”
Cowie got approval from the DeFuniak Springs City Council back in June of 2013, and he spent 277 man-hours and $470 completing the table. Though Cowie took the lead on the project, making the mold, mixing, pouring, casting and placing the table was a group effort, as nine of Cowie’s fellow scouts and five adult volunteers, including Library Director and chess club sponsor Dan Owens, helped him complete the construction. Even his fundraising source was creative: Cowie got the money for the project by selling custom-made pens of wood hand-turned on a lathe.
The in-depth nature of the project was something Cowie hadn’t entirely expected, having never worked with concrete before, but he said the little unexpected trials are all a part of the Eagle Badge experience.
“I knew up front that I wanted this to be something that’s a little different from the norm,” Cowie said. “[Eagle Scout Service Projects] are supposed to put the scout through the fire, so to speak. There are always a few things you don’t expect to have to deal with at the time, but since I prepared extensively and had some great help along the way I was able to see it through to the end.”
About 30 people, including family, friends, scouts and city officials were on hand for the dedication ceremony, at which Cowie put the final touches on the bench – a cast bronze plaque with his name and the date. The extra reinforcement, heavy weight and durable materials used means the table should last a while requiring only periodic cleaning and very little maintenance, all while deterring vandals desirous of a massive chess board. Furthermore, the heavyweight construction of the table and benches should make it mostly immune to even the worst of Florida’s tropical weather.
Good news if anyone decides to play a game of chess in a hurricane, he said.
