Does someone have to die for us to get a bench around here?
pouring one out for all of our lost trail cats
Recreational sitting isn’t a high priority for most American parks & urban planning departments.
Public benches are pragmatically placed and often transit-oriented, like at bus stops or outside of the county jail. They’re designed as temporary refuges while you wait to go to the next place.
Of course, we do place benches in parks, schools, libraries, and on the grounds of other “public works.”
Anywhere else? Pop a squat. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a public bench outside of these contexts. You’ll know where public sitting is socially sanctioned - a bench marks the spot.
What about a destination bench, a spot with a view?
Those are rare.
The finest American benches rely on generous donors, those with families who want a memorialized yet practical headstone. A place where their loved ones can dedicate their afterlives to providing a seat for others to sit and watch clouds pass while shooting the breeze.
I’m pleased to announce the addition of a new, unique “destination bench” along a bike trail in my hometown.
Unlike destination benches reliant on a benefactor’s benevolence, this one honors a penny-less local hero, Newt - “the trail kitty who liked to roam.”
Last week, just after the concrete finished drying, someone paid an homage to Newt beneath the bench. A few days later, someone else (or maybe that same someone) wrapped the bench with an orange bow, matching Newt’s fur coat.
The city finished the bench’s installation just in time for the 1st annual “Newt Scoot” bike ride to raise funds for the humane society. I’m disappointed that I missed the memo - I would have loved to have joined the inaugural procession.
Further down the trail, you’ll find Newt’s trail sculpture, which predates the bench:
Newt’s legacy is as ingrained in the trail’s public art as it is in the town’s lore. The cat’s failed mayoral bid remains an occasional topic of conversation, and miniature 3-D printed renditions of the trail’s sculpture sit atop kitchen windowsills throughout the town.
Trails bring people together in the physical world. As they connect us with place, they connect us with each other. Building integrated trail systems in communities extends to both superficial and deep arguments.
One of the less explored reasons to build trails is this: If you build trails, kitties might come. And if you’re lucky, destination benches and community will follow.
My small corner of the world isn’t perfect. But, Newt makes it brighter.
(though, the sculpture’s traffic-cone-orange paint does help with illumination)
👉 Check out my 12-Week Marathon Blog Post to keep up with this past week’s training. As these Substack newsletters continue to diverge from pure “marathon training blogging,” I’m updating that post each week on Wednesday with more intel on what went into my marathon training.