Memorial Bench Donation Program

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Washington County Parks reinvented its Bench Donation Program which offers benches that can be sponsored by individual donors or groups and placed in a park location in memory of a loved one. The original program was not user-friendly as there was no formal process in place, and it was not cost-effective. The original program had no standard process in place and was cumbersome for staff and donors alike. The updated system leverages new technologies, including interactive story maps and GIS mapping, and offers pre-designed benches and pre-approved locations to streamline the process. These updates help to eliminate uncertainty, and provide simple steps for donors to follow in order to memorialize a loved one and create a lasting connection to a local park.