Memorial Bench Program

The Memorial Bench Program is a great way to honor someone special and contribute to the enhancement of our parks for years to come. Your contribution will provide park visitors with a place to relax and enjoy all that Somerville parks have to offer.

Need to know

Cost

A memorial bench costs $1,300, which includes a 6-foot bench, freight, installation materials and labor, plus a commemorative plaque. Price is subject to change.

Benches

If you have a location in mind, a representative from the town will meet with you on site to discuss the location and alternatives, if needed
We will review and approve all requested bench locations and dedication plaque inscriptions
All memorial benches belong to the Borough of Somerville
We will handle the care and routine maintenance of the benches and replace them if they are damaged or vandalized within 5-years

Plaques

The dedication plaque can include a simple message about the person being honored. It is our intent to honor dedications as a personal expression, while providing oversight and keeping public spaces welcoming, safe, and accessible for everyone.

Each plaque has space for 4 lines of text, with 25 characters per line. Punctuation and spaces count as characters. Text on plaque will appear in CAPITAL letters. Submitted wording is subject to approval.

Steps

Applications for memorial benches are received on a first come, first served basis.

Print and complete the application form
Make a check payable to Somerville Recreation
Mail the form and payment to 25 West End Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876

What's next

Once we receive payment, we will place the order for a memorial bench. This process may take up to 8 weeks.
We will send you a proof of the plaque for your approval before we send it to production
When the bench is delivered, the Department of Public Works will arrange for installation (within approximately 2 weeks)
We will notify you with an approximate installation date. We may delay installation by several months, depending on the time of year and conditions of the desired location.