Members of Our Lady of the Mount Virgin Church in Middlesex have been playing bocce – all thanks to the efforts of New Jersey’s newest Eagle Scout.

Since the end of last year, John Schlip, of Piscataway, has been busy working on his Eagle Scout project.

There was an open space next to the church. He leveled it and dug out two 40-foot-long bocce courts. He also put in wooden-raised sides and astroturf.

The project took about five months. He says he hopes the courts bring people in the parish together.