M. Park plans to ‘bench’ honored residents
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By Kipp Hanley
Published: May 21, 2008
It took a trip almost halfway around the world for Manassas Park Vice Mayor Bryan Polk to think of park benches in a whole new way.
Polk was on vacation three years ago on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where he found the perfect way to recognize citizens for their contributions to the city.
It came in the form of park benches, Polk said. The city of Kailua has dedicated various benches around town to both living and deceased residents who made a significant impact on the city in some manner.
Polk presented the idea of having park benches at various points around town and it was well received by council earlier this month. According to the plan, which was adopted by council on Tuesday, a resident can nominate a living or deceased resident of the city and then would have to acquire a sponsor. The sponsor could be either city manager Mercury Payton or an individual member of the council.
The council would then deliberate as a group and ultimately decide on whether a park bench is merited for the individual. Polk estimated the cost of the bench, with a commemorative plaque, would be around $1,000.
Council member Keith Miller liked the idea and said recognition like this was a great way to honor residents without the community contention that inevitably follows when dedicating a building to an individual.
"I don't think we'd be putting people in the firing lane [with this program]," Miller said. "I think it would be easier for someone to dedicate something to a deserving citizen. It was a good idea."
The Park Bench name is also a play on words for the city that is commonly referred to as "The Park."
Parks & Recreation Director Catherine Morretta estimated that between Signal Hill Park on the east side, Costello Park on the west side and various other neighborhood parks, the city has approximately 50 benches that could ultimately be replaced.
"I always thought it would be beautiful on this end [east end] of Manassas Drive," Morretta said. "It's got sidewalks on both sides [so] you could just put them every couple hundred feet."
"We don't have many parks, we don't have many buildings [but] we have lots of need for park benches," Polk said.
The fiscal 2009 budget, which was also approved Tuesday, does not include funding for this program. Polk thinks the next fiscal year might be an appropriate time to allocate funds for this program.
Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-369-5738.
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