Parks, Picnics, & Playgrounds: A Guide to Our Urban Seating Collection

Parks are beloved public spaces that make it possible for thousands of visitors to enjoy outdoor recreation, gatherings and celebrations, and everyday social connection. From major cities to quiet town greens, thoughtfully designed seating areas, playgrounds, recreation spaces and inviting amenities help make public parks welcoming and enjoyable for all.

At Kenneth Lynch & Sons, we are proud that our products have become part of so many beloved parks and outdoor spaces. We invite you to explore more about our Urban Seating Collection and how it reflects our commitment to craftsmanship, durability, and timeless design for thousands of parks, playgrounds, and public spaces across the country.

 

Our Legacy with Public Parks

Our connection to urban spaces goes back to the 1930s, when our founder, Mr. Kenneth Lynch worked alongside New York City Parks Commissioner Robert Moses during the development of planned seating for the 1939 World's Fair. Together, they developed a bench design to maximize comfort and to take advantage of manufacturing processes and created the 1939 World's Fair Bench, a design that has continued to be one of the most popular designs for parks nationwide.

 

Today, Kenneth Lynch & Sons remains a trusted manufacturer of benches, picnic tables, and game tables for park departments, municipalities, landscape architects, and homeowners looking for seating that combines classic design with lasting durability and historical authenticity.

 

Park Benches

Our Urban Seating Collection includes a variety of bench styles designed to complement a wide range of landscapes and architectural settings. From the iconic design of the 1939 World’s Fair Bench to the unique Hermann Park Bench, these timeless designs blend seamlessly into both traditional and contemporary landscapes.

Take a look at our different bench styles that can be found throughout parks and private residences nationwide.

 

Central Park Settee
The iconic Central Park Settee is based on the original bench design from the 1870's and Kenneth Lynch & Sons worked with the New York Parks Department to re-introduce this bench design in 1994. Today it can be found in the pastoral areas of Central Park and other parks nationwide. Its relaxed design is ideal for vast open spaces and gathering areas.

 

1939 World’s Fair Bench
The 1939 World’s Fair Bench is our most popular bench design for public spaces throughout major parks and cities across the country. The design can be spotted by the iconic circular armrests. We are also pleased to offer a scaled-down design in a smaller size for children, perfect for schools and playgrounds.

 

1964 World’s Fair Bench
The 1964 World’s Fair Bench was originally designed for the World’s Fair held in Queens, NY and today's bench produced in our workshop was reintroduced to the parks department in 1995 and is based on the original design for World's Fair. This bench style is characterized by its asymmetrical swooping arches and futuristic style and has become increasingly popular over the past several years with additions of the benches throughout New York City, Arlington County in Virginia, and other cities throughout the U.S.

Additionally, we have our newly designed 1964 World's Fair Chaise Lounge and Bar Stools that were created specifically for the East Coast Resiliency Projects in Manhattan.

 

Hermann Park Bench

The Hermann Park Bench was designed by the Olin Partnership of Pennsylvania in 2001 for one of Houston's oldest public parks, Hermann Park, that includes the Houston Zoo, Museum of Natural Science, an outdoor theater, reflection pool, playgrounds and gardens. This bench style can be seen throughout various spaces of the park, and we most recently worked with Michael Van Valkenburg Associates to create a modified armless octagonal version of the bench that allows for the seating to wrap around the oak trees of the boardwalk.

 

Hoof Bench
The Hoof Bench, also known as City Hall Bench, was introduced into New York City in the late 1800’s and re-established in New York during the revitalization of the City Hall area in 1999. This bench is characterized by the cast arm and backrest with legs that are uniquely finished off by a “hoof-like” foot. It can also be found in Washington Square Park, along the Bronx River Greenway, and at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Manhattan.

 

Game Tables

Game tables are an inviting addition and a great escape to any public space, creating the opportunity for a fun activity for park visitors. Our authentic New York City Chess Tables are seen throughout the New York metro area in parks, playgrounds, libraries, and residential developments. Our game tables can be ordered with a chess or backgammon playing surface, with custom colors available for the chess board.

 

Elements for Playgrounds, Park Gardens & Plazas

While we are well known for our various bench designs, we also offer garden elements that enhance the natural landscapes of playgrounds and public spaces. Sundials and statuary are often incorporated into public gardens as a decorative focal point or a symbol of honor and dedication. We also offer a vast collection of beautiful fountains in a variety of shapes and sizes for park walkways, city squares, and town greens.

 

 

For playgrounds, additions such as cast stone animals, including turtles, elephants, and spouting frogs, are often popular ways to create playful climbing structures or water features. And of course, our benches and picnic tables are the perfect way to offer parents and guardians a spot to sit and relax while the kids enjoy the parks and playground settings.

 

 

Learn more

Our Urban Seating Collection is designed to enrich outdoor spaces and we are happy to be a part of thousands of public parks, gardens, playgrounds, plazas, and town greens across the country. Many of our benches and furnishings have remained in service for decades, demonstrating the value of quality craftsmanship and timeless design.

We invite you to explore our Urban Seating Collection and discover how thoughtfully designed furnishings can help create more welcoming, functional, and memorable public spaces for generations to come.