Girl Scouts Celebrate New Gazebo After Project Twist Captivates Neighbors
Meet the Girl Scouts at the Center of the Saga and Find Out What They Want To Do Next
Friday, August 29, 2025
The Rahway Girl Scouts whose park project captivated the city gathered with city leaders on Wednesday to celebrate the new gazebo at Girl Scout Park.
The scouts had originally planned to paint the old gazebo as part of their Bronze Award projects. But before they got the chance, the structure vanished.
Each girl must complete 20 hours of work by the end of September to advance from Junior Scouts to Cadettes. Without the gazebo, their project plans suddenly fell into limbo.
Troop leader Robyn Koenig turned to the neighborhood Facebook group to ask if anyone knew what had happened—but no one had answers.
Instead of stalling out, the troop drove ahead with their beautification plans. Armed with wood planks, tools, and determination, several scouts and adult volunteers gathered on site and got to work. They managed to tick off some of their community service hours by building two picnic tables.
Koenig posted photos of the girls hammering nails and drilling screws. The images spread quickly online and sparked praise from their neighbors.
Around that time, it came to light that the city had removed the gazebo due to safety concerns. The aging wood was rotting, and officials wanted to replace the structure before someone got hurt. They just forgot to inform the Girl Scouts.
Left to Right: Sisters Crystal and Julet Torres, Maddie Figueiredo, and troop leader Robyn Koenig. (The Central Jerseyan)
Standing alongside the scouts and city council members at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Rahway Mayor Raymond Giacobbe thanked them for their contributions to the city.
“I’m looking forward to discussing more park planning initiatives,” he told the troop.
The mayor also praised the Department of Public Works for building the gazebo and getting it into place in time for the ceremony.
Koenig said the mayor invited the Girl Scouts to City Hall next week to talk more about ways they can complete their Bronze Award. Fortunately for the girls, attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony also counted towards their quota.
The scouts said they like the new gazebo and are hoping to add to it somehow.
“It kind of looks like a lighthouse,” said 11-year-old Maddie Figueiredo.
Juliet Torres, 10, said the gazebo—tall and round with a spire on top—reminds her of a fairy castle. She suggested adding painted rocks that spell out Girl Scouts. The group liked that idea.
Crystal Torres, who’s a year younger than Juliet, suggested adding bunnies or cats—but definitely not both.
Maddie said she wants to add a playground to the park. Her troop leader suggested she save that idea for her Silver Award.
The girls also plan to return soon to finish sanding and staining the picnic tables they built.
Most of the girls said it was their first time using a power drill. Juliet said she’s used a drill before to hang pictures on the wall at home, but a picnic table was a more challenging experience.
Most said this was their first time using a power drill. Juliet noted she had used one before to hang pictures at home, but said building a table was a bigger challenge.
Mayor Giacobbe originally named the space Girl Scout Park in 2019, in recognition of a previous park restoration project—also led by Koenig and her troop—which included painting the old gazebo.
“It was really amazing how the community came together,” Koenig said.
This week, that spirit of togetherness returned—led once again by a new generation of Girl Scouts.