WOODS CROSS ó Tom Smith wants his Eagle Scout project to benefit the city.

So heís come up with an ambitious plan to have Salt Lake City sculptor Stanley J. Watts, create a 17-foot-tall monument commemorating 100 years of Scouting which heíd like placed in Hogan Park. ##M:MORE##

What makes the ambitious project more remarkable is that Smith is only 15 years old.

Now, he needs to raise about $28,000 of the $35,000 needed to get the monument built.

Smith said he and his father were looking at some of the bronze sculptures in downtown Salt Lake City such as the one of Brigham Young and it got him thinking about memorials as an Eagle Project. The veteranís memorial put together by Eagle Scout Cameron Chambers on Woods Cross City Hall, only strengthened Smithís resolve to do something to benefit the community.

The sculpture will be made of bronze and will depict a Boy Scout peering off a cliff atop an 8- to 10 -foot base. Watts used a 1908 sketch by Robert Baden-Powell, Scoutingís founder, as his inspiration. Smith said Watts agreed to drop the price for the young man, from his usual fee if his name was placed on the monument.

Still, raising the funds is not going to be easy. Smith wants to get the word out to all the LDS churches in Woods Cross, asking individuals, families or groups to contribute by the end of August. Those contributing $500 or more will have their names placed on the monument and all donations will be tax deductible.

Donations should be deposited in the Woods Cross Scout Monument Fund at the Utah First Credit Union, 1520 S. 500 West. When sufficient funds are received the account will be closed. Smith said that if the monument is not erected by 2014, all contributions will be returned.

Those who would like Smith to pick up their contribution for deposit, or who have other questions may call Smith at 298-7638.

mwilliams@davisclipper.com