Memories From A Park Bench

Memories From A Park Bench

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What comes to mind when you hear someone mention a park bench? Do you think of a black metal frame with painted wooden slats? A long concrete rectangle perched on two massive legs? Maybe you have a picture of a park bench with delicately carved lacework on the seat and back, centered under a gazebo.

Have you ever considered the benefits of a well-placed park bench? It is hard to imagine a more versatile piece of furniture. Ironically, many people walk by these fascinating pieces without so much as a thank-you or even a glance.

Allow me explain further. Park benches come is every color, shape and size imaginable. Lovers seek out the ornately carved metal variety nestled under a fragrant canopy of honeysuckle off the beaten path. Snuggled together on the bench they share their dreams and plans for the future.

Mothers with toddlers in tow often enjoy a brief respite on a wide bench with plenty of room for diaper bags and changing duties. Children, feet dangling between the bench seat and the ground, eat ice cream and cautiously watch the people passing.

A city bench located near a bus stop can provide a place to sit and wait for the downtown express or the uptown trolley. These simply built benches are a welcome sight after a day of shopping. They give people a place to get off their tired feet and temporarily set aside packages and brief cases, resting aching arms and shoulders.

Park benches are more than just a fixture to rest your feet. If you asked ten people what park benches mean to them, you would probably get distinctly different ten answers. Some people might recall the solitary bench on the national mall that gives visitors a place to pause and reflect on our nation's history. Others may tell you they return to the same bench, year after year, to remember a nervous beau, knelling on one knee, proposing marriage in a shaky voice. Tired toddlers and weary visitors have napped on one of the many park benches scattered throughout Central Park in New York.

My five year old will tell you with glee about the life-sized purple plastic molded hippo in our town's playground. It is not the likeness to the animal that impresses her. It is the tiny cubby under the hippo's chin that holds her shoes and socks. This is important to her because without a place to store her shoes she would not be able to play in the nearby sandbox--her favorite pastime.

For me, the mention of a park bench brings an image of an abandoned city bench that was rescued from an old storage locker. My friend spent weeks restoring the ornate designs on the cast iron backing and leg ends. She replaced the cracked planks on the seat with raw teak. After weeks of staining and sanding, she introduced the bench to her garden. The bench sits between two stately magnolia trees, beside the little man-made waterfall that masks the noise of the city. It is a haven among the thorns, beckoning the weary to come and be rejuvenated.

About the Author:
M. Lee is product manager for outdoor furnishing company, TerraBound Solutions, Inc. specializing in park furnishings such as park benches, picnic tables, trash receptacles, and more.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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