A Girl Scout project turned into a community-wide effort and a way to honor Earth Day.

Roanoke Rapids Girl Scout Troop 3023 built bluebird houses as well as wild seed balls to place in their own yards once the projects were completed, city Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon said.

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It turned into a community service project when the Down to Earth Garden Club asked the city if it would like birdhouses in its parks.

The answer was yes and today the scouts placed specially made birdhouses in Smith and Emry parks. The birdhouses placed in the parks were built by the department’s maintenance staff and also included the posts to secure them. They feature the department’s logo.

The scouts today put their initials on the birdhouses and headed out to both parks to place them on the posts — five at Smith and eventually four at Emry.

Manning helps a scout with a birdhouse at Smith.

“It will help with the aesthetics of the parks,” Simeon said. “It should give us another element to our parks for people to enjoy nature and the bluebirds.”

The project, Scoutmaster Charlotte Bradley said, not only fulfills woodworking requirements, but community service requirements as well.

“I think it’s a good way to help our community,” scout Shelby Newsome said.

Betty Bianconi, president of the garden club, said one of their members’ granddaughters is in the troop. “It’s an opportunity to help with some of the people in the community and to beautify the parks.”