Boy Scout Evan Karanovich doesn’t consider himself a builder. But when it recently came time to earn his Eagle Scout award, he decided to construct a gazebo at the Douglas County Boundary Waters Recreation Park.

“The shingling was the most tedious part of the job,” Karanovich said Wednesday. “It took a lot of work atop a 10-foot ladder, which was scary at times.”

Part of the Eagle Scout requirements is a community project. After looking at various options, Karanovich discussed some ideas with Wes Tallon, county communications and community relations. and decided upon the gazebo in the park.

“I knew Boundary Waters was just beginning and was sort of an open slate,” he said. “It’s close by and a perfect location for a project.”

He worked closely with Parks and Recreation employees during the spring in pre-planning the site. The location is adjacent to the park walking trail and the future location of the first paved segment of the four-county Greenway Trail.

“This is a place the county plans to beautify and make available for weddings and other special occasions,” said Peter Trent, park manager. “We worked closely with Evan to find a spot that will be the focal point of the trail.”

The county contracted with Wayne Davis Concrete to pour the pad for the structure.

The gazebo came in a kit form from Lowe’s which gave Karanovich a 30 percent discount. Although it was a kit, he said the assembly was still difficult. The project cost about $5,000 which came from community sponsors and individuals.

Karanovich and six volunteers spent a hot April weekend putting the gazebo together.

Trent said the county plans to do a lot of additional work at the site which is currently mostly grass and mud.

“We’ll be doing a lot of landscaping, adding Bermuda sod and building a walkway,” said Morris Ellison, park beautification coordinator. He said flowers and shrubbery would be planted at the site and a seating pad would be laid on the gazebo floor.

Karanovich, 18, had to work the project into his college plans which included a summer session at Georgia College and State University where he will attend classes this fall.

He plans to major in political science and minor in criminal justice, as part of a pre-law curriculum.

“I’d like to return to Douglas County to open a law firm or maybe work as a prosecuting attorney,” he said. He has done a lot of volunteer work with law firms and the sheriff’s office and at this point, he’s open to working on either side, the defense or prosecution.

Karanovich grew up in Lithia Springs and attended Factory Shoals Elementary School. He graduated from Arlington Christian Academy in Fairburn this spring.

His scouting interest began in the first grade when he was a Cub Scout in Pack 1990 at St. Theresa Catholic Church. He later moved to Pack 654 at Beulah Baptist Church and Boy Scout Troop 228 at First United Methodist Church.

The Eagle Scout is the highest advancement rank in scouting and involves requirements of leadership, community service and outdoor skills. Only about 5 percent of all Boy Scouts attain Eagle rank.

The final Eagle requirement is a community project which involves at least 100 hours of work. Karanovich said the gazebo took about 130 to 140 hours.

He met with his last board of review on July 30 and expects notification soon from the national scouting office. A formal ceremony will be held in the fall.

In addition to his Scouting work, Karanovich has also been involved in high school football and has been active in the Republican Party. He is past chairman of the Douglas County Teen Republicans and executive director of Georgia Teen Republicans. He has worked with the local political campaigns of Beau McClain, Tom Worthan and Mike Miller.

He has also done volunteer work for The Pantry, a local food bank, and St. Theresa Catholic Church.

Karonovich has a long “thank you” list of people and organizations who have helped him in his Eagle Scout project.

Individual helpers have included his parents, Alan and Colleen Karanovich; his grandparents, Harvey and Frances Rand; his aunt and uncle, Tracey and Jeff Karanovich; Beau and Heather McClain; David and Pam Aycock and Donald Howe. In addition, he lauded Scoutmaster Larry Cohran and Andy Finkle of the Board of Troop 228 for their assistance and “being good mentors.”

Community sponsors included Advanced Insurors (Jimmy W. Epps), Best Bonding, Inc., Law Office of Jack Clay, LLC, Cruz Pest Control Inc., GreyStone Power Corporation, Irish Bred Pub Restaurant, Lamar’s Main Street Collision, Lowe’s, Mark W. Justice, D.M.D.,P.C. Orthodontics, Radiation Oncology Services Inc. of Cobb County, Secure Free Technologies, State Farm Insurance agents Tim Lee and Kayron Hudson Warren and Douglas County Commission Chairman Tom Worthan.

“We’re very proud of Evan and we’re pleased that he chose, as his Eagle Scout project, one that will be enjoyed by our citizens for years to come,” Tallon said. “The gazebo sits adjacent to the Boundary Waters lake and will be a wonderful resting place for those walking and biking the trails.”

“The whole purpose of the project is to get the community involved and interested in scouting,” Karonovich said. “I feel the project helped us come together to build something good for the county.”