Yash Shah, an Eagle Scout candidate, told the Norwood Trails Advisory Committee on March 11 that he plans to build kiosks for the town’s trails as his Eagle Scout project. "I was hoping we get just some locations down," Shah said, describing an initial plan to install several weather‑ and vandal‑resistant kiosk units around town.

Committee members welcomed the proposal but urged Shah to narrow the scope and return with drawings, site proposals and a fundraising plan. Joe Greeley, a committee member leading the meeting, said the committee could be flexible on design and that the scout should aim for two to three kiosks so the work remains feasible. Tom McClintock, an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 42 who attended with Shah, described troop resources and volunteer shop time that could help with construction.

Why it matters: kiosks and consistent wayfinding are a key element of the committee’s multi‑year effort to make Norwood’s trails easier to use and maintain. Committee members said standardized kiosks and signage would simplify future repairs and content updates and recommended that Shah coordinate with town offices and the Conservation Commission before finalizing sites.

Committee guidance and next steps
- The committee asked Shah to complete an Eagle Scout project proposal that includes drawings, exact locations, a materials list, a timeline and a plan for how remaining funds would be handled. Shah estimated he hopes to finish the work in about seven months.
- Staff or volunteers will send Shah an existing PDF specification used for kiosks already installed in town. "I will send that over to you," the meeting host said, referring to a previously used spec the group could adapt.
- The committee advised Shah to meet with town staff and, depending on the chosen sites, to seek a Conservation Commission review or other site‑specific approvals. The committee noted the Conservation Commission had previously provided high‑level approval for installing kiosks on some town‑managed conservation land.

Materials, budget and town support
Committee members said there are some leftover supplies — "a box of nails" and "a pack and a half of shingles" — but emphasized that the scout should not assume the town will buy everything. Greeley said the town has in the past purchased materials for other kiosk projects and that the trails committee’s small operating budget is refreshed on July 1 each year.

Cooper Park and existing kiosk inventory
Committee members noted the town’s Cooper Park project includes three town‑purchased kiosks scheduled for installation; there is space for a fourth kiosk that could be a volunteer or Eagle Scout contribution. The committee reported seven trail locations in town, two of which already have kiosks; members estimated the broader need could be roughly six kiosks total for the network and suggested the scout limit his scope to two or three kiosks.

Installation and maintenance concerns
Members stressed installation logistics (heavy units can require heavy equipment or backhoe assistance), durability (hinges, weather stripping and vandal‑resistant display cases), and ongoing access for updates. One member recounted that prior kiosks used both screws and weather stripping and that sun exposure had caused weather stripping to bond to the protection case, making later access difficult.

Attribution and community roles
Shah will prepare the written Eagle project packet, circulate sketches and coordinate with the committee and town staff. The committee recommended he present an updated proposal at a future meeting (members suggested March 31 as a target to exchange sketches and materials and offered May as a time to report back to the committee). Tom McClintock and other volunteers offered shop time and construction assistance if needed.

Ending: The committee did not formally vote on Shah’s project at the meeting. Members expressed general support and set clear next steps: Shah is to submit the Eagle project proposal with drawings, the committee will share the kiosk spec PDF, and town permitting or Conservation Commission approvals will be sought as required before installation.