Over the years, local scouts working to attain the rank of Eagle have made numerous improvements to the Polly Ann Trail.

They’ve added map boxes, donation poles, rest areas, bat nurseries and dog waste bag dispensers to the 16.9-mile non-motorized, recreational trail that runs through Addison, Oxford and Orion townships as well as the villages of Leonard and Oxford.

Now, Life Scout Max Charlton, a member of Boy Scout Troop 366, is making his mark on the linear park.

For his Eagle project, Charlton is installing 18 mile markers, ranging from zero to 16.9. He and his fellow scouts braved Saturday’s rain and chilly temperatures to begin the process.

“They were good scouts,” said Polly Ann Trail Manager Linda Moran.

When Charlton, a junior at Oxford High School, learned there was a big need for new mile markers, he jumped at the chance to help.

“I like a challenge,” he said.

The markers will extend the entire length of the trail, from Joslyn Rd. in Orion Township to Bordman Rd. in Addison Township.

Moran said the old markers didn’t cover the whole trail. They went from Bordman Rd. to Indianwood Rd. in Orion.

According to Moran, the markers consist of a composite material “made out of recycled plastic milk jugs” and they’re manufactured in Michigan.

In addition to being eco-friendly, Moran said the markers are “graffiti-resistant,” so if they happen to get vandalized with paint, it can be washed off.

“That’s another good feature (just in case) we have problems,” she said. “(The composite material) doesn’t have pores (like) wood, so you can get (paint) off much more easily.”

In addition to informing users where they’re at on the trail, the markers tell them which trail they’re on.

“With all of our trails intersecting nowadays, you never know where you are,” Moran said. “Am I on the Paint Creek? Am I on the Polly Ann? Am I in Lapeer? Where am I? You can look at our mile markers and it says right on there, ‘Polly Ann Trail, Oakland County.’ You know what county you’re in (and) what trail you’re on.”

The markers also tell trail users which township or village they’re in.

“That’s very helpful if you were to become disoriented or injured and an emergency vehicle needed to find you,” Moran said. “I think it’s a great idea because you don’t always know where you are when you’re out on a bike or you’re out walking.”

The trail is frequently used by walkers, hikers, runners, cyclists and equestrians.

Moran noted the positions of the markers will be in sync with the 4-foot-by-4-foot maps that line the trail. There are currently 25 of these maps, with a 26th to be added on Sunday.

“No more getting lost on the old Polly Ann Trail,” Moran said.

Charlton raised approximately $2,000 to take his mile-marker project from concept to reality. He believes the Polly Ann Trail is an important part of this area because it “links communities together” and “it brings a lot of people into town.”

Improving its appearance with things such as new mile markers shows visitors “we have our stuff together,” he said.

Charlton has been involved in scouting since his days as a first-grader at Daniel Axford Elementary. Becoming an Eagle Scout has been a goal of his for a long time.

“I wanted the feeling of accomplishment,” Charlton said. “(Becoming an Eagle Scout) says you have determination and you have the willpower to see something through all the way to the end.”

The most important thing Charlton said he’s learned from scouting is to “keep up the hard work” because “it will all pay off.”

His favorite part of scouting is “definitely the campouts.” He enjoys telling stories around the fire, going on hikes, canoeing and kayaking.

“It’s all great,” Charlton said.

When he’s not busy doing something with Troop 366, Charlton is a Wildcat athlete who spends time in the pool as a member of the swim and dive team in the winter, then takes to the field to play lacrosse in the spring.