Bellevue city officials have announced a new bench program to promote more public seating in local parks and other locations throughout the city.
Officials said the program creates a partnership between the city and those citizens or groups who want to donate benches to honor someone. The person or entity wishing to honor someone with a bench and an honorific plaque would be responsible for the cost of those items.
The city would serve as manager of the bench project. City staff would be responsible for preparing the way for the bench, creating a platform or clearing space, ordering the benches and plaques, and overseeing the installation and maintenance of the bench once it is installed.
The program sets out guidelines and policies for the placement of the bench, as well as design and language standards for the benches and honorific plaques. While donors can request locations, the policy states the city has the ultimate say in where benches can be located.
“It’s just one of those great examples of when you have a city that people have pride in and is a true community,” said council member Ryan Salzman. “We have had a huge influx of people wanting benches and trees…You have to codify these things, because you can’t have too much of a good thing. But these [guidelines] are now in place. People can reach out, and we can help facilitate any of those things”
He thanked City Administrator Frank Warnock and his staff for developing the program. He outlined the program and noted some of the thinking behind it.
“If you want to honor a family member or friend, you can purchase a bench through the program, and then we will install it, and you can purchase a placard to honor your family or friend,” he said. “We will try to work mutually with each other to determine the placement of the bench within the city. We have a lot of requests for trees to honor family members and a lot of folks want to put those trees in Beach Park. We don’t want beach forest, and so, we are encouraging folks to purchase benches.”
The Park Bench Application is available on the city’s website. Under Forms & Permits, go to All Other Items for Businesses/Contractors/Residents.
