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Eagle Scout project humanizes handicap parking issue

High Point Enterprise - 11/7/2020

Nov. 7--HIGH POINT -- What once was a source of frustration became a source of inspiration for a High Point teenager who recently received his Eagle Scout award.

Ian Woody, a member of Boy Scout Troop 20 at First Presbyterian Church, earned his Eagle Scout distinction for a project in which he enhanced handicap parking spaces around town by adding photos of some of the individuals who actually need to use such spaces.

"My idea was to humanize the signs so people would think twice before parking in the handicap parking spaces," explains Ian, a 17-year-old senior at the Early/Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown.

The idea grew out of the frustration Ian used to experience when he went somewhere with his grandmother, the late Margie Woody, who had a disability parking placard because she was on oxygen.

"Nine times out of 10, we would not be able to get a handicap space because someone who didn't have a permit had parked in that space," Ian says. "We would end up having to park at the other end of the parking lot."

So Ian came up with the idea of putting a human face on the issue -- literally -- with the hope that people might realize how their actions negatively affect the disabled community when they take those parking spaces.

He lined up five models from the High Point community -- Jim and Bertha McGee, John Fisher, Richard Holland and Daniel Byrd -- all of whom have disabilities and have placards allowing them to park legally in handicap parking spaces. He photographed the models and converted their photos into signs -- 35 of them -- that he installed beneath the traditional handicap parking signs. Each sign includes the words "Think Of Me, Keep It Free," a reminder to save the handicap spaces for those who need them.

Ian's signs, which he created in partnership with the High Point Parks & Recreation Department and the city's Transportation Department, can be found at five places: City Lake Park, Blair Park Golf Course, Oak Hollow Golf Course, Johnson Street Sports Complex and the Roy B. Culler Jr. Senior Center.

"I also gave signs to the five volunteer models as a thank-you for helping me out with my project," Ian says.

The son of Ken and Kacy Woody, Ian has been in scouting for about 10 years, and says earning his Eagle Scout award is "something I've had my eye on ever since I started."

In addition to receiving his Eagle Scout award, Ian was publicly recognized for his achievement at Monday's meeting of the High Point City Council.

jtomlin@hpenews.com -- 336-888-3579

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