Resident Wants to Create and Install Bench on Strand

MB resident John Bushman wants to make a bench in memory of his parents, longtime Manhattan Beach residents, and install it on The Strand at 15th Street.

On Tuesday night, he presented a sketch of the ornate marble bench he would like to install to three members of the five-member Cultural Arts Commission at a regular meeting of the commission. 

Bushman was asked to return to the commission with a more detailed and specific plan for his bench, and given the reminder that even if the bench meets city specifications, its installation on The Strand could be denied for aesthetic reasons.

He was also told that memorial benches are no longer allowed; merely the name of the family can be placed on the bench.

The commission said that there is a handbook with guidelines, including dimensions, color and materials, and standards that have to be met to install a bench on The Strand.

The handbook currently contains only one approved design. Commissioner Susannah Rosenthal said the commission plans to approve a few more designs, but hasn’t yet. 

Here's a 2006 staff report to City Council regarding three existing benches on The Strand. The three were donated and placed on The Strand during the 15 years prior to 2006, according to Richard Gill, Parks and Recreation director, at a 2006 city meeting.

In December of 2006, the current City Council voted unanimously to re-install two of the memorial benches that the public had expressed some concerns over to the new, remodeled Strand. A third bench did not receive any negative public comments and did not come under council scrutiny. 

Subsequently, on November 20, 2007, council approved guidelines for the installation of donated artistic benches in alcoves on The Strand, as detailed in a staff report.

Editor's Note: This article was updated Friday, April 13 at 5:35 p.m to reflect that the meeting was a regular meeting and not a special one as previously written.