Bryant to offer residents memorial park benches

Bryant officials will launch a memorial bench program tonight at the first of a series of town-hall meetings.

For $600, a person can donate a bench in memory of someone and have it displayed in a Bryant park.

“This is something we’ve never offered and we’ve seen some cool ones going to other parks in other cities,” Parks and Recreation Director Derek Phillips said.

The metal benches will be blue and have “The City of Bryant Parks Department” written on the back in a white sans serif font. “In Memory of” a person’s name will be in a white cursive font on a bottom bar between the legs of the bench.

The idea originated through resident Amanda Ballew in 2002 when she suggested the program after her boyfriend died in a city park. He was 16 and playing basketball when he collapsed and died before an ambulance arrived.

“I wanted to do something to remember him by,” Ballew said. “I think it’s a great way to honor and remember the people that are important to you and show that outwardly in public.”

The city doesn’t make any profit from the benches, Phillips said. The donation covers cost and distribution.

Anyone interested in buying a memorial bench should contact the parks department at (501) 943-0444 and then meet with a representative to discuss where they would like the bench to be placed.

Most city parks, except for Ashley Park, have space for more benches, Phillips said. The parks with the most spaces are Mills Park, Alcoa 40 Park and Bishop Park.

The benches will be made by prisoners of the Tucker Unit with the Arkansas Department of Correction.

“Municipalities can purchase things from them at a lesser cost, and they are very high quality,” Bryant Mayor Jill Dabbs said. “The benches are beautiful; they are custom-made.”

A model bench has been purchased and will be shown tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center gym of First United Methodist Church, 508 Reynolds Road in Bryant.

Dabbs will lead the first in a series of four town hall meetings titled “Envision 2030.” The topic tonight is public safety.

Other meetings about public works, community image and quality of life are scheduled for Feb. 21, Feb. 26 and March 5, respectively.