Eagle Scout Builds a Free Library for Magical Bridge Palo Alto
My name is Siddhant Mopkar. I’m a junior at Palo Alto High School and part of BSA Troop 50 in the Pacific Skyline Council. I started working on my Eagle scout project with Magical Bridge in March of 2026. With help from many people, I built “Magical Library”, a little free library for Magical Bridge Palo Alto.
Magical Bridge was my favorite playground as a kid: I loved sliding down the slide mound on a piece of cardboard and running through the Music Zone. It was unlike any other playground I had been to. Now that I’m older, I realize how unique and special the Magical Bridge playground is in the way it welcomes people with different abilities.
When I started looking for an Eagle scout project, I first approached some teachers at my old middle school to ask if they’d like anything built for the school. The speech teacher referred me to Magical Bridge, saying they might make great use of a communication board, which was my initial proposal of a project to them. The Magical Bridge team was quick to reply back and helped brainstorm ideas. Eventually they concluded that they might make use of a library as well.
Thus, I began writing the proposal on how we will most likely go about the project.
After approval of the proposal, I got help from Palo Alto Kiwanis Club member, Brian Dahlquist. He guided me on the design of the library and getting the correct type and kind of wood and supplies suitable for long term weatherproof and outdoor use. He then helped cut the wood and make the library parts into an assembly kit for the volunteers. With his woodworking expertise, scout volunteers and friends, we were able to build the Magical Library.
It took 4 months and 7 different sessions:
The first session, we bought the wood and went back to Brian’s to get it cut. The next 3 sessions were just cutting the wood to make the assembly kit. We had the first project work session right after school got out for the summer, for sanding and applying primer. Next, we spent 3 more sessions with assembly and painting. A friend helped with some art work on the library to match the designs on the playhouse at the playground. Finally we attached the hinges of the doors and some plexiglass for safety.
On September 6, 2026, the Magical Library came to the playground to be fixed to its new home. My mom shared a photo of me as a kid in the same spot where the library was installed. It felt like a full circle moment for me.
I hope the library provides another way for children to take a break or rest while at the playground. With enough involvement from the community, the books will look like they appear magically in the library every day; hence the name Magical Library.
Read more about Siddhant's project in the Palo Alto Weekly.
Special thanks to: Olenka Villarreal, Harriet Stern, and Brian Dahlquist for this opportunity and all your help with this project. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to contribute a little bit to Magical Bridge Playground.
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