Michael Brown’s Eagle Scout project was child’s play.

The 16-year-old Lakeland High School junior decided to build a playground for Bethlehem Christian Church as his Eagle Scout project.

“My mom is a member of a lot of the groups at church,” Brown said. “She overheard someone saying they needed a playground. It was a good idea, so I went with it.”

Brown joined Boy Scouting in 2003. He is a member of Bethlehem Ruritan Club’s Troop 30.

It was a little more of a commitment than an ordinary Eagle Scout project.

“We had a pretty big area that we could build in,” he said. “There was a lot of paperwork and thinking of what I needed to do. We went to Lowe’s looking at what we could get, and we got a good deal on it.”

The new playground includes ladders, swings and a slide, as well as a sandbox and other pieces of equipment.

“I think some of the little kids have been playing in it already,” Brown said.

Brown raised about $3,000 for the project to add to $3,000 donated by the church.

After everything was gathered, it took about four to five days to put together, he said.

In addition to Boy Scouts, Brown is involved in the Air Force JROTC, is actively involved at church and performs other community service.

His favorite subjects are history and art, and he hopes to join the military when he graduates next year.

Brown will formally receive his Eagle Scout award on March 1.