Jun 26th 2026
A Walk in The Park: 10 Iconic Parks Featuring Kenneth Lynch & Sons’ Products
For nearly a century, Kenneth Lynch & Sons has been honored to contribute to some of America’s most beloved parks and public spaces - from iconic park benches to custom-designed furnishings and garden elements. Our history dates back to the early 1900’s when our founder, Kenneth Lynch, worked on some of the most notable projects and public spaces in the country. We are excited to share some of the most timeless park settings that feature our classic park furnishings and garden elements today.
And stay tuned for our company’s 100th Anniversary in 2027 with special features that will take a look back at our fascinating history throughout the years!
1. Central Park
New York City
Central Park is a celebrated landmark in New York City. It is visited by over 40 million people each year and famously appears in hundreds of movies throughout the years. We are happy to have been involved in the production of benches for Central Park since the 1900’s and be the preferred manufacturer of the Central Park Settee, based on bench design from the park's early creation around the year 1858. This relaxed and simple bench design can be found in open areas of the park and along Literary Walk, the walking path that leads to the iconic Bethesda Terrace.
Learn more about Kenneth Lynch & Sons’ history with Central Park
2. East River Park
New York City
East River Park spans over 50 acres along the waterfront of the Lower East Side with views of the iconic Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Williamsburg Bridges. As a part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project, to protect Lower Manhattan from sea level rise and coastal flooding, our team worked with Matthews Nielsen Landscape Architects to design our new 1964 World's Fair Chaise Lounge and Bar Stools, drawing inspiration from the original seating of the 1964 World's Fair Benches that are also found across common areas of East River Park and other parks in New York City.
3. Dix Park
Raleigh, North Carolina
Dix Park is Raleigh’s signature urban park featuring over 300 acres of rolling meadows, skyline views, fields of flowers, historic buildings, and groves of trees. Designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, this park offers an amazing playground for families, beautiful gardens, spectacular art, and sweeping skyline views. Our team was delighted to work with Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates to design a series of continuous 1939 World’s Fair Benches for the park that are designed to follow the curved contours of the walking paths. The design also specifies no armrest on the ends to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
4. Hermann Park
Houston, Texas
Hermann Park is one of Houston's oldest public parks, featuring the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo, scenic views over McGovern Lake, an outdoor theater, and gardens. In 2001, Kenneth Lynch & Sons worked with the Olin Partnership of Pennsylvania to create and produce an original design of the Hermann Park Bench that is placed throughout the park. In recent years, we also partnered with the Hermann Park Conservancy and Landscape Arts to create custom octagon benches that fit around the trees at the new entry plaza to the Miller Outdoor Theater, along the boardwalk, and other areas of the park.
5. American Museum of Natural History
New York City
The American Museum of Natural History was founded in 1869 as a research and education center for natural history. Today, it is composed of 21 interconnected buildings and 45 exhibition halls in New York City’s Theodore Roosevelt Park. In recent years, Kenneth Lynch & Sons was part of the construction project for the new Richard Gilder Center, designed by Studio Gang and landscape architects Reed-Hilderbrand, which included our iconic 1939 World's Fair Benches. The 1939 World's Fair Bench can be easily recognized by its round hoop armrests and is a very popular bench style found in all five boroughs of New York City.
6. Washington Square Park
New York City
Washington Square Park is one of the most famous public spaces in Manhattan, known as a cultural center for gatherings and entertainment, and home to the historic Washington Square Arch. A main feature of Washington Square Park is the series of benches that line the walkways and main plaza. Known as the Hoof Bench, or the City Hall Bench, this unique bench style was introduced in New York City in the late 1800’s. It can also be seen at New York City Hall Park, Riverside Park’s Soldiers and Sailors Monument, and along the Bronx River Greenway.
7. Bushnell Park
Hartford, Connecticut
Bushnell Park is located in Connecticut’s capital city and is the first and oldest publicly funded park in the United States. The park features a historic carousel, monuments, lake views, picnic areas, playgrounds, and is home to many major events each year, including the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz and the Hartford Marathon. Upon visiting Bushnell Park, you will find our Chess Tables and 1939 World’s Fair Benches throughout the park. Our Chess Tables come in a classic design with a concrete and terrazzo top that is durable throughout the seasons, making it a favorite addition to urban settings and public spaces.
8. Bicentennial Bell Garden
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In recent years, our team worked with the Benjamin Rush Garden Project on a special new fountain design for the Bicentennial Bell Garden in the historic area of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. In collaboration with Studio Bryan Hanes and G Force Engineering & Construction, we recreated the design for a Tiered Wall Fountain that was originally installed with our lead bowls in 2004 by the National Park Service. The new fountain features our Lead Dolphin Mask and Fluted Wall Shells to create a soothing flow of water in this historic garden.
9. Olmsted Parks Conservancy
Buffalo, New York
The Olmsted Parks Conservancy in Buffalo, NY is home to the park system that was designed over 150 years ago by Frederick Law Olmsted, famously known as the father of landscape architecture. Today, the Buffalo Olmsted Park System is composed of six parks designed in a way that allows visitors to travel from one park to another without leaving the serenity of the green spaces. Olmsted proclaimed it to be “the best planned city … in the United States, if not the world.” Kenneth Lynch & Sons is proud to have our 1939 World’s Fair Benches throughout the parks at the Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
10. Astoria Park
Queens, New York
Astoria Park is known for its incredible waterfront views with benches lining the shoreline to provide the perfect place to sit, unwind, and take in the views. The park also offers tennis courts, a running track, basketball courts, playgrounds, and plenty of walking paths for visitors to explore. Throughout the park, you can find our 1939 World’s Fair Benches, Concrete and Wood Benches, and Concrete Chess Tables that offer a perfect spot to sit and enjoy a relaxing day outdoors.
Learn more
We invite you to learn more about our history and visit our Project Gallery for inspiration for your future outdoor living projects! For more of our classic garden elements and site furnishings, view our collections below:
