Seventeen-Year-Old Builds Gaga Ball Pit in Local Park

Seventeen-year-old Eugene Dobberfuhl has made a lasting contribution to his hometown by helping to build a gaga ball pit at Jim Hansen Park in South Elgin. Dobberfuhl conceived the idea, raised $3,000 for its construction, and organized the necessary labor as part of his Eagle Scout service project.

Gaga ball, if unfamiliar, is a popular activity at summer camps and school playgrounds. Dobberfuhl described it as similar to dodgeball with the objective of hitting opponents’ feet instead of knocking them down. ‘The last person standing wins. It’s a lot of fun,’ he shared.

Dobberfuhl attended a Boy Scouts summer camp for many years, where gaga ball was extremely popular. Recently, he’s noticed an increase in gaga ball pits at schools. A South Elgin High School student, Dobberfuhl aimed to achieve the prestigious Eagle rank, an accomplishment held by only 5% of Scouts. He chose Jim Hansen Park for the ball pit because it’s close to his home. ‘It’s the park I’ve played at since I was young, playing baseball there. It’s special to me,’ Dobberfuhl said.

The park is often busy, ensuring the pit will be used frequently. Becoming an Eagle Scout requires extensive effort and life skills, Dobberfuhl noted. Completing the service project was his final requirement, bringing him a sense of achievement. ‘I’ve been dedicated to this,’ he remarked. ‘Now I can take a deep breath knowing I achieved this. It feels fantastic.’

South Elgin Parks and Recreation appreciated Dobberfuhl’s contribution, said Director Kim Wascher. Another gaga ball pit was built as an Eagle Scout project in 2020. ‘Gaga ball has been around for a long time. Lots of kids have played this at school. It’s popular in our park,’ Wascher noted. ‘It was a nice addition to the park.’

Dobberfuhl began his service project in spring 2023 by presenting the idea to the South Elgin Park District. He collaborated with Wascher, who linked him to potential donors for the project’s $3,000 cost. ‘This gave me confidence in reaching out to people to achieve my goals,’ he said.

The ball pit was assembled in mid-June with help from his troop and parks and recreation staff. The park district highlighted Dobberfuhl’s hard work, leadership, and dedication in a social media post: ‘His efforts have left a lasting impact that park visitors will enjoy for years. Thank you, Eugene, for your commitment to enhancing South Elgin. We celebrate this accomplishment and wish you continued success in earning the Eagle Scout rank.’

Dobberfuhl takes pride in seeing the results of his endeavors. ‘Every time I see the pit being used, it brings a smile to my face,’ he said. ‘When I go to college and leave town, a part of me will remain here as my contribution to the community. I hope this pit has a lasting impact on park visitors daily.’