7 minute read
PARK MemorialS Natural WayS to Honor Loved Ones
By Pernsteiner Creative Group staff
THERE IS ARGUABLY NO BETTER WAY TO HONOR A LOVED ONE OR CELEBRATE A SPECIAL EVENT THAN TO DEDICATE AN ELEMENT IN NATURE THAT ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY’S RESIDENTS. MANY MINNESOTA AGENCIES HAVE CREATED JUST THAT – AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEMORIALIZE LOVED ONES BY DEDICATING A BENCH, TREE, BIKE REPAIR STATION, PICNIC TABLE, BRICKS, AND MORE IN THEIR LOCAL PARKS.
Memorial programs honor loved ones, providing benefits to present and future generations, giving back in many ways:
• The gift of benches, chairs, and picnic tables allow people the chance to rest in the parks and gather as friends and family.
• Trees or flowers planted in someone’s memory are a living tribute that enhances the overall park system.
• Bike repair stations allow active residents to enjoy nature and honor a memory while pausing to fix a bike.
• Dedicating sculptures and other icons of art give people a creative and more intimate experience while enjoying a park.
• Sponsoring a part of a park or donating to a forest or conservancy fund help to protect and preserve the park for everyone.
There are various memorial programs throughout Minnesota, but the same underlying purpose remains - paying homage to loved ones while providing value for the community.
Memorial programs stand the test of time. Three Rivers Park District and the City of Prior Lake have been operating their programs since the mid-1990s, nearly 30 years. Other programs across the state were created in the early 2000s. The demand for park memorials is increasing in many areas.
“In 2004, the [Three Rivers] Park District had 20 tribute benches,” said Karl Huemiller, volunteer and donor relations supervisor. “As of January 2023, the Park District has 173 tribute benches and currently 10-20 are installed per year.”
The City of Prior Lake has more than 60 benches in Lakefront Park, the city’s largest and most popular park, explained Steve Hart, parks and recreation manager.
Ramsey County revamped its memorial program in 2019 and since then, 10 benches and one bike repair station have been installed.
Funding Resources
Since most of the programs run lean, the existing revenue after production expenses is typically used for installation, maintenance, and improvements in the parks. Additionally, in some areas like Ramsey County, extra funds may also be used to get more art into the local parks. “[Art] perennially seems to be something that does not end up in our operating budget, but is critically important to being a welcoming park system,” stated Kristopher Lencowski, director of park operations of Ramsey County Parks and Recreation.
Every memorial has its own story to tell. Agencies have heard stories of donors visiting their bench or hosting a picnic near their tree on a certain anniversary. Some have held dedication, candlelight, or planting ceremonies for the community to attend. Others have initiated fundraisers as a result.
“One gentleman expressed he lost his wife to cancer and since then, they have raised over $400,000 towards cancer research,” said Mao Lee, recreation program specialist of farmers market and park sponsorships about a resident’s memorial. Donors honoring loved ones in their local parks system will forever see the positive and lasting impact that their gift has on their community and environment. Because at the end of the day, life is more beautiful in a park.
Angels of Hope
A unique tribute program that helps families heal is the Angels of Hope program. Angels of Hope features a statue surrounded by memorial bricks that provide a path and serene space for parents to grieve the emotional and physical loss of a child – opening the door for the community to help them heal.
The Angels of Hope is a monument that provides a beacon of hope nationwide. Since the first angel was erected in 1994, there are now more than 150 Angels of Hope sculptures across the United States. In Minnesota alone, there are seven parks and gardens in communities that have recognized the need for parents to have a place to reflect, heal and find peace.
All seven Angels of Hope parks and gardens in Minnesota are home to hundreds of sponsored bricks with plenty of room for additional donations.
Learn more about Angels of Hope at www.angelsofhope.org.
WE CONNECTED WITH MINNESOTA PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR MEMORIAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT, THE CITIES OF MAPLE GROVE AND PRIOR LAKE, AND RAMSEY COUNTY. HERE ARE THEIR RESPONSES.
Three Rivers Park District Tribute Benches
Q&A with Karl Huemiller, volunteer and donor relations supervisor
How long has this program been in operation?
The Park District has been accepting donations for tribute benches since the mid-90s. The current iteration of the program was developed in 2004 with small changes being made since then.
Who runs the program?
The Three Rivers Park District Tribute Bench program is administered by Park District Staff.
After production expenses, what are the funds used for?
After production and installation expenses, funds are used to cover ongoing maintenance and replacement costs associated with the benches. Remaining funds also support the improvement and installation of additional seating options across the Park District’s parks and trails.
Do you have an idea of the amount of funds this has generated since its inception?
Since inception, the Tribute Bench program has generated over $310,000. Over the last two years the program has generated about $50,000 in gross revenue per year.
How many memorials are currently installed in parks?
In 2004 the Park District had 20 tribute benches. As of January 2023, the Park District has 173 benches. Currently 10-20 benches are installed per year.
Do you have other memorial programs? If so, please explain.
The Park District has a number of other tribute programs including bike repair stations in regional trails, Adirondack chairs, tree plantings all available throughout the Park District. Additionally, Silverwood Park has a donor wall to recognize tribute donations to the park and its programming.
Are there other forms of memorial programs your agency offers?
Donations can be added to reservation and registration transactions for both designated and undesignated (general) use. The Park District works closely with the Three Rivers Park District Foundation to raise funds supporting many initiatives to help connect everyone to the wonders of our parks.
Any other closing thoughts about your memorial programs?
Is has been valuable for the Park District to have a maintenance team associated with the tribute bench donations. We also provide a GIS map with the locations of available benches and information about current benches on our website. Learn more at threeriversparks.org/page/ tribute-benches.
City of Maple Grove AngelS of Hope statue and bricks
Q&A with Mao Lee, recreation program specialist – farmers market and park sponsorships
Q: How long has this program been in operation?
The Angels of Hope Memorial Bricks have been available for sponsorship since 2001.
Q: Who runs the program?
Both the city and the Friends of the Angel. The Friends of the Angel is a volunteer committee dedicated to helping friends and families who have suffered a lost one. More information about their group can be found here - https://www. friendsoftheangel.org/. The city helps with processing the brick orders, ordering and installing the bricks, replacing any damaged bricks and maintenance of the site. The Friends of the Angel does a lot of the promotional work for the bricks and they host 2 brick dedications a year for families to come to the site and see the sponsored bricks.
After production expenses, what are the funds used for?
Any extra funds go towards maintenance – if a brick (bench, tree, plaque) needs to be replaced, maintenance of the parks, maintenance of the Angels of Hope statue.
How many memorial bricks are currently installed in parks?
Hundreds of bricks have been installed since this program started and there’s room for plenty more.
Have you ever gotten inspiring feedback from a memorial purchaser in the community?
Since I’ve only recently began in my position, I’ve only been to one brick dedication and the 2022 brick candlelight memorial. I heard a few stories of families and friends saying how precious their loved ones are. One gentlemen expressed he lost his wife to cancer and since then they have raised over 400k towards cancer research.
Are there other forms of memorial programs your agency offers?
The city also offers sponsorable trees and park benches. The tree program has been discontinued at this time because sponsorable trees have been maxed out. The park bench sponsors are processed case by case depending how where the sponsor would like to place the bench. Learn more at maplegrovemn.gov/ facilities/facility/details.
City of Prior Lake Memorial Bench Program
Q&A with Steve Hart, parks and recreation manager
How long has this program been in operation?
Since the mid-90s, so nearly 30 years.
Who runs the program?
The City of Prior Lake administers the program.
After production expenses, what are the funds used for?
This program runs lean, meaning we do not charge much more that what the materials cost. Any additional funds go into the City general fund, which funds Park Operations. We charge $2,250 for a memorial bench and plaque. Roughly $2,000 goes toward the bench, and the other $250 for the plaque. Upon installation, the City will maintain the bench for a minimum of 10 years with the option to renew the memorial after that period.
How many memorials are currently installed in parks?
There are over 60 memorial benches installed throughout the city. Many of them at Lakefront Park, the city’s largest and most popular park.
Have you ever gotten inspiring feedback from a memorial purchaser in the community?
Every so often, we hear from those who’ve purchased a bench that they will visit it on a certain anniversary, or have had their own dedication ceremony, after it has been installed by City staff.
Are there other forms of memorial programs your agency offers?
We used to maintain a memorial tree program, but have discontinued it to simplify processes. Many of these trees still exist in our park system today. Learn more at priorlakemn.gov/ government/parks-recreation/parks/ memorial-bench-program
RAMSEY COUNTY Tribute Program
Q&A with Kristopher Lencowski, director of park operations, Ramsey County Parks & Recreation
Who runs the program?
Ramsey County
How long has this program been in operation?
The program has been running for quite a while, but was revamped in 2019.
Do you have an idea of the amount of funds this has generated since its inception?
Since 2019, it has generated $21,000
After production expenses, what are the funds used for?
Funds are used for park amenities such as benches, bike racks, picnic tables, etc. Funds may also be used to get more art into the parks, since that perennially seems to be something that does not end up in our operating budget but is critically important to being a welcoming park system.
How many memorials are currently installed in parks?
Since 2019, 10 benches have been installed and 1 bike repair station. A number of legacy benches exist in the system from the previous version of the program.
Are there other forms of memorial programs your agency offers?
Tamarack Nature Center has a paver program, but it is not robust and rarely used anymore.
Learn more at ramseycounty.us/residents/ parks-recreation/parks-trails/tributeprogram
