By Rich Larson
A plan to add more places to sit along Division Street has its first sponsor. Cardinal Glass has committed to funding a bench for Age Friendly Northfield’s downtown seating project, organizer C.C. Linstroth said Monday.
Age Friendly Northfield and the Friends of Downtown Northfield are seeking sponsors for eight benches. The groups turned to community fundraising after an unsuccessful grant application this summer.
Linstroth said the existing benches are few and far between, unevenly spaced, and do not all have armrests. Those features matter to people who need a place to rest while shopping or attending events. Armrests can also make it easier to sit down and stand up.
The organizers have worked with the city on a bench design. Linstroth said Andrew Tussing of the city’s parks and streets department recommended sturdy, low-maintenance benches that would be anchored in place. She has also spoken with Northfield Engraving about plaques recognizing sponsors.
The cost has risen since the group began exploring the project. Linstroth said the benches initially appeared to cost about $1,300 each; the current estimate is about $2,000 per bench. Age Friendly Northfield expects to cover the cost of the plaques.
Cardinal Glass offered to sponsor a bench the day after Linstroth discussed the fundraising effort publicly, she said. The company also offered to help publicize the project. Linstroth suggested its plaque could recognize Cardinal Glass’s 40 years in Northfield, though the wording has not been settled.
Organizers hope to place matching benches at regular intervals along Division Street. Linstroth said a suggestion to add seating near the Grand has also come up, but locations are still being considered. The goal remains eight benches, with room to add more if support grows.
Linstroth said seating serves more than a practical need. A bench can give someone a place to wait outside a store, watch downtown activity or talk with a neighbor. She encouraged businesses, organizations and families to consider sponsoring one as the fundraising effort continues.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net.
