PARK BENCHES — City crews installed Tuesday the first recycled carbon fiber bench manufactured by Composite Recycling Technology Center of Port Angeles.
The tan and green bench was dedicated near the Ediz Hook boat launch in honor of late members of the Gesellchen family.
“This is a nice spot,” said Dale Gesellchen of Port Angeles.
“My dad, he loved this spot. He launched his boat here so many times.”
The Gesellchen-sponsored bench was the first CRTC bench installed in the city’s new Adopt-a-Bench Program.
Similar benches are expected to line the Port Angeles Waterfront Trail, City Pier, Marine Drive and the rest of Ediz Hook.
Eventually, the $2,500 carbon fiber reinforced epoxy benches will be adopted by families and added to the city parks system, according to city officials.
“It gives us a chance to expand the program a little bit,” Port Angeles Parks and Recreation Director Corey Delikat said.
The new bench has a plaque dedicated to the memory of father Richard J. Gesellchen, mother Betty J. Gesellchen and brothers Joe W. and Roger L. Gesellchen.
The sons and daughters of Richard and Betty Gesellchen chipped in to pay for the memorial.
Dale Gesellchen witnessed the installation with sisters Karen Borneman of Port Angeles and Sherry Schleufer of Longview.
“I know my parents are honored to be here,” Dale Gesellchen said.
Once the city had 10 adopters signed up, it ordered an initial set of benches from CRTC.
The city will cover the manufacturing costs through the Adopt-A-Bench program, which replaced the Memorial and Donation program that it administered from 1991 to 2002.
Families and individuals who paid for a wooden memorial bench will be offered a 10-year plaque on a carbon fiber bench for $2,500. New bench adopters will pay $3,500.
“The money raised goes into a special fund to maintain the benches and for future park projects,” Delikat said.
The carbon fiber used in the benches is the same material that Boeing uses to make airplanes, CRTC Director of Engineering Guy Houser said.
“We take this material and turn it into other products,” Houser said.
The CRTC benches are highly-durable, scratch resistant and able to withstand saltwater environments, city officials said.
“It’s supposed to be super-easy to clean if any graffiti goes on it,” Houser said.
All but the stainless steel fasteners and heavy anchors are made of carbon fiber.
“The carbon fiber itself should have a 50- to 60-year lifetime,” Houser said.
The carbon fiber benches on waterfront properties will be tan and green. Benches installed in city parks will be blue and gray, Delikat said.
The CRTC benches were designed by Port Angeles artist Bob Stokes.
“This was all built with local labor,” Houser said.
“The tools, the molds, everything about this was done with local labor. The designer. Everything was PA. PA people working.”
For information on the city’s Adopt-A-Bench program, click on www.cityofpa.us/914/Adopt-A-Bench-Program.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Port Angeles Parks and Recreation Department workers Darryl Anderson, left, and Eli Hammel install a recycled carbon fiber memorial park bench near the boat ramp on Ediz Hook in Port Angeles on Tuesday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
