Premier Polysteel has made a name for itself partially on the back of well-designed park benches. We produce premium outdoor furniture that’s made for commercial and public applications and has an industry best 20 year warranty.
We make plastisol coated steel outdoor furniture that’s meant for high-volume long term use and which has a track record of performing in some of the most highly visited public spaces anywhere, under a variety of environmental conditions.
In this article, we’d like to talk about the different park bench styles we make, and the different styles of parks that would be a perfect place to stage one of those benches as a part of the infrastructure.
With an abundance of park types, our customers demand unique park bench styles
It might seem a bit elementary to discuss the various types of parks that exist around the world. However, each different style of park has a unique type of visitor or many unique, diverse visitors that have specific needs while in that park, regarding their interactions with park infrastructure. Because so many of our website visitors are looking for ideas, we think it’s helpful to explore the different types of parks and give some suggestions about the Premier Polysteel park bench styles that might make sense for the different types of parks.
Generally speaking, there are two different types of parks: active parks and passive parks.
Passive parks are more common, and might be better described as parks that function as open spaces where public visitors can interact with the park. Examples might include open trails, picnic spots, or outdoor recreational areas that are open to the public.
Active parks usually have programmatically driven facilities or those that are administered with active engagement with the public. An example might be: community swimming pools, gymnasiums, skateparks or sports fields or complexes. A more focused activity set and potentially a higher density of traffic means the organization that runs an active park might require more staff or administration.
The following types of parks all have a unique set a visitor’s:
Urban parks
Urban Parks tend to have a high volume of visitors who tend to spend a little less time in the park, and more commonly might just move through the park as part of their daily commute or during daily tasks like walking the dog, or going out to get some food.
Linear parks – for example trails
Parks that contain trails also have a more transient type of visitor that tends to move through the park rather than staying in one spot for a very long time, except where there are communal areas, overlooks or viewpoints, or where the infrastructure invites the visitor to take a load off.
National parks
National parks tend to have a focal point, and usually have large areas that are focused on very specific attractions or spaces that have historical significance. National parks are also generally quite large and have more sporadic infrastructure outside of core focal points. Many national parks also have visitor centers or areas where people will gather for long periods of time whether in groups or as individuals seeking to take in the information and activities at the space.
State parks
State parks are also almost overwhelmingly focused on a specific attraction or area and usually have infrastructure built around multiple places where people can visit, learn about the site, or enjoy the space. State parks usually have areas for picnicking and/or consuming food and drink as well.
Schools
While many schools are no longer open to the public, oftentimes non-university type schools have very specific needs that revolve around the student population and how they will interact with their environment during the course of the day-to-day actions. Oftentimes there are designated areas for eating or resting, and occasionally there will be other staged areas meant to encourage visitation or calm reflection.
In schools where campuses are more open, like Universities, usually there are strategically placed areas to reflect in nature, rest or grab a bite to eat that are enhanced by the more diverse infrastructure which may include restaurants, pavilions or outdoor theaters, etc.
City and local parks
City and local parks are often built around the idea that visitors will spend a significant amount of time at the park, whether at an event or utilizing sports or recreational infrastructure, or as a combined effort over time utilizing the park on a more day-to-day basis. The type of visitor to city and local parks Is definitely different from other park venues. While they may do some of the same activities and use the park for some of the same things, like picnicking or eating, or recreational purposes, the way the park is used by common visitors is different.
Suggestions for benches based on park style
Based on each of the different parks we’ve covered above, here are some suggestions for park benches made by Premier Polysteel that might make sense in each different style of park we’ve covered.
Urban parks and choices for visitors on where to sit
Depending on the needs of the urban park, having several different options might make sense when it comes to park benches. For instance, in areas where theft or vandalism is particularly high, having a direct-bury bench might make more sense than having a bench that can be more easily moved.
Additionally, having different sizes and styles of benches throughout the park offers the various different users an opportunity to find something they like, and sit down to enjoy the views or reflect on their thoughts.
Linear parks – for example trails – what type of benches make sense?
Parks with high traffic trails are a perfect fit for direct-bury style benches. Because oftentimes it’s hard for maintenance crews to service all the infrastructure in an area that has a frequently traveled trail. Having a more permanent placement for a bench makes it easier to maintain from a cost perspective as well as a time perspective. These benches also offer a durable way for visitors to take a load off while undergoing a hike or an opportunity for runners or equestrians to visit with others while on the trail.
Bench ideas for National parks and State parks
Like some of the other park styles, national parks and state parks, given the different areas and focal points on the properties, many different benches might make sense. Obviously, high traffic areas are going to require benches that are weatherproof, durable and long-lasting. That’s why Premier Polysteel features so prominently in places like national and state parks.
From wall mounted designs that make sense around visitor centers or where there’s a high volume of users, to direct bury style backless or traditional benches, that allow users to feel more confident and welcome, as they sit down and spread out to relax.
Additionally, because of the durability of Premier Polysteel outdoor furniture, which is made from sturdy steel architecture and coated in a complete envelope of plastisol which make the furniture highly resistant to UV, mold and mildew, and vandalism, and completely weatherproof, national and state park procurement teams can feel confident that the investment they’re making will be a sound one.
School Benches
Schools are a perfect place for Premier Polysteel’s Buddy Benches and personalized benches, as well as memorial benches. Each one offers the unique opportunity to serve the different needs that a school might have.
For instance Buddy Benches serve as communal spaces where people can talk and get to know each other better. Personalized benches can help the school define their name and what they stand for. Memorial benches offer the school an opportunity to highlight donors or special individuals they wish to honor.
City and local parks can vary in their sitting needs – we offer several different park bench options
City and local parks, in our experience, love the Grand Contour line of benches thanks to their very comfortable seating surface. Also Premier Polysteel sells a lot of Swing Benches to city and local parks, as it offers locals who frequent the park, and spend a large amount of time in the park, the opportunity to enjoy themselves without having to participate in more rigorous sports or other activities as they pass through the park and use it on a daily basis.
City parks that have a large variety of activities usually appreciate the unobstructive and sporty Champion and Champion Supreme line of benches by Premier Polysteel. They’ve been a historically popular choice for parks with a wide variety of activities.
Having these different options in a local park makes it much more inviting to a wide range of users and gives users more of a reason to frequent that park.
How to personalize a long-term park bench with Premier Polysteel
Premier Polysteel offers a unique program where a donor can purchase a pre-selected product under our outdoor furniture program and have a name or a special message written on a plaque in order to help improve the infrastructure in that outdoor space. Parks or schools near you might not have the funds to upgrade their outdoor space, and as a gracious donor an individual or group might be able to donate such a park bench to help improve the community aspect of the park.
Premier Polysteel also gives the option to personalize many of our benches utilizing weatherproof, long-lasting plaques that can be engraved in different styles.
How to find the right park bench for your needs
How can you get help finding the right solution for your needs?
We think it’s pretty simple: we’ve built a team of incredibly experienced sales and support representatives that know everything there is to know about assisting organizations and individuals in finding the right park bench for their outdoor space. From schools to passive parks to active organizations that have a very specific type of visitor, our team can help you understand how the different varieties of long-term, durable outdoor park benches we produce might make sense for you or your organization.
We produce furniture that helps people gather together and make memories. We invite you to have a look at our catalog or contact one of our representatives today, to see if we can help you answer questions you may have, or assist in the planning of your next project.
