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Sprucing up the entrance to the village of Bangor was something Keaton Hilby wanted to do not only to earn Eagle Scout honors, but also to give back to his community.

The process began about a year ago. Searching for a project to tackle, Hilby noticed the entrance to Bangor along Highway 162 — where several signs display business, school and organization-related information — was in desperate need of revitalization. A plan was formed and the help of local youth and fellow Boy Scouts was enlisted.

In the summer of 2005, Keaton’s vision was to replace the 11 organization signs that measured 18-by-18 inches and had been worn down to chipped paint with brand new signs that were 24-by-24 inches and reflective. The cost to the organizations was $50 per sign. He also wrote letters to local businesses and community groups seeking funding. Keaton conquered public speaking and showed up at organization meetings to tell about his project and hopefully get the group’s monetary support.

The original plan of replacing the signs kept evolving and was finalized to include landscaping around the three sets of signage at the gate of the community. The actual work days came this August, when fellow Boy Scouts from Troop 77 and Bangor High School students spent six days — under the direction of Keaton — sprucing up the land.

The sophomore said the group dug sod, tilled the earth and made edging. They then organized about 70 plants, which had been stored at the Hilby home until the day of planting, in the places where they would be planted.

Neighbors and passersby thought the family was opening a greenhouse, said Keaton’s mother, Kathy.

A small hill next to the sign display was stripped of its weeds, leveled and given a refreshed look.

There were times when the project would become discouraging, Keaton said.

But every time he passed the Bangor welcome signs in their bad state of disrepair, he knew he had to continue pursuing his project. A total of 136 hours were worked between Keaton and help from volunteers. Just more than $1,000 was donated.

The Boy Scout since first grade, said that money left over from this project will be used to pay for replacing plants that didn’t survive the winter. Primarily perennials like Black Eyed Susans, Day Lillies, a variety of grasses and shrub roses were planted.

“He didn’t know the names of any of these plants before he started,” his mother said, but he knows them now.

At first people were willing to donate, but when the signs went up, people were even more encouraged to contributed, Keaton said.

Getting that support didn’t come without a lot of effort. Kathy said her son was put in a situation that a lot of people don’t like to be in and that is asking for money. Always a responsible kid, Kathy said the Eagle Scout project, the most coveted award in the Boy Scout organization, improved Keaton’s maturity level.

“I’m really happy with the way it turned out,” Keaton said. “I hope the village can enjoy it for many years.”

Keaton stressed that he couldn’t have completed the project without the help of volunteers and donations of money and materials from local businesses and organizations. It also helped that his parents were willing to drive him to and from meetings and the work site. Keaton doesn’t turn 15 until April.

The Eagle Scout award is more than just getting a few people together to help complete a project. Keaton spent hours coordinating and supervising volunteers. He also had to keep a journal where he recorded every working moment. He plans to submit his Eagle Scout application after he receives his final merit badge. Boy Scouts seeking the top honor must accomplish their project before they turn 18 years old.

Troop leader Dave Halverson, of West Salem, said the whole goal of the Eagle Scout project is for boys to actually come up with an idea and then follow it through step-by-step to the very end.

“It’s a real growing experience to see individuals coming up with an idea of creating a project and then going through all the steps to get it there,” Halverson said. “Organizing the labor, funding, materials — sometimes it gets pretty involved.”

Pursuing the Eagle Scout project is driven from within the boys themselves, Halverson explained. The Scouts look around their communities for something to improve upon and then they figure out who they have to talk to and be able to present themselves to others.

“Keaton works extremely hard at everything. His biggest goal is to do the right thing and help people around him,” Halverson said. “He’s never been one to be in for himself.”

Halverson also said the project Keaton choose symbolizes the 15-year-old sophomore’s civic pride by being a part of something everyone sees in his community.