Collingwood staff have proposed a new policy for memorial benches and trees at town parks, including specific rules for where they can be placed.
The policy is the result of an order by council in the summer to place a moratorium on memorial benches and trees for the rest of the year (2019) until a policy could be adopted.
According to a staff report headed to the Corporate and Community Services Committee on Monday (Feb. 3) and to council on Feb. 18, the long-standing practice has been the town providing opportunities for anyone wishing to memorialize a late loved one. For the most part, this took the form of bench and memorial tree donations.
Many people requested benches be put up at Sunset Point Park, “as it tends to be iconic in the memories of shared experiences amongst residents,” states the staff report.
However, the “density of furniture” in town parks, particularly at Sunset Point, has become “more noticeable,” and even sparked complaints and questions from residents who live nearby and suggest there aren’t enough people to sit in all the benches placed at the point.
In July 2019, John Megarry, representing the Sunset Point Resident’s Association, made a presentation to council and included the benches at the park in his list of concerns.
“There are currently 45 of these memorial benches in Sunset Point Park,” he said. “They chew up quite a bit of space … valuable and scarce green space in the park.”
Ted Rowe, another resident in the area opined the park was becoming more of a memorial garden than a park. He counted more than 50 benches at Sunset Point Park.
The staff report, prepared by Parks Manager Wendy Martin, states the donation of trees and benches is “advantageous” for the parks department, as it helps provide more tree canopy and amenities for parks.
The report also acknowledges, without a policy such as the one proposed, it’s difficult to mandate the location of a bench or tree.
The policy drafted by staff states new benches for Sunset Point will only be considered in the most eastern zone of the park (the same end as the water plant).
If the new policy is approved, all trees or benches will be selected according to town standards, and while donors may suggest a location, staff will be able to limit memorial trees and benches to approved areas.
According to the proposal, enhancements won't be permitted on memorial trees and benches, and that would include ornaments or lights on a tree "or anything beyond the tree itself," said Director of Parks, Recreation, and Culture Dean Collver in an email to CollingwoodToday. Currently, there are some memorial trees are decorated with various ornaments at different times of the year. Other benches are decorated with flowers.
The donation period for a bench will be 15 years, during which time the town will replace the bench and/or plaque up to two times if necessary. A tree donation period will last 25 years, and the parks department will replace it up to two times if necessary.
After the 15 or 25-year period, the bench or tree will be maintained to “regular park standards” according to the proposed policy, but will not be replaced due to vandalism or damage.
Costs of the tree or bench and plaque will be the responsibility of the donor, and the town must approve all wording on memorial plaques. Collver said the cost of a memorial tree is around $500 and the cost of a memorial bench is around $1,500.
The proposed bench and tree memorial donation policy will be part of the agenda at the Feb. 3 meeting of the Corporate and Community Services Committee. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the town hall council chambers, and there is an opportunity for members of the public to speak to agenda items during the meeting.
