I read somewhere the argument that those in charge of placing public benches should have to take a semester-long course on that, and I can’t refute this.
After a recent visit to the West Hartford Reservoir, I was wondering why the only benches I saw were found in the parking lot, rather than along the trails. The bus stops closest to the Reservoir, however, had no seating options.
In other places, benches tend to be placed where there is no shade, or facing nothing of interest, or bunched together with other benches. It’s long mystified me why there are few solitary benches, for loners who want to read a book or drink their coffee in relative peace.
In a Hartford park, there’s an array of chairs and tables, all clustered in a shady spot, but close to a street. I had never seen anyone sit in that spot. Someone — and I’m guessing not management — picked up and moved one of these to a more desirable location in partial shade and with a view.
