Dec 4th 2025
The Art of the Park: Five New Park Projects with Enduring Design
Over the last century, Kenneth Lynch and Sons has worked with hundreds of park planners to provide iconic park furnishings, garden elements, and outdoor seating areas for park projects across the country. From our early work with New York City’s iconic Central Park to today’s modern installations, we are proud to be a part of meaningful projects that bring communities together.
Here are some of our recent park projects completed in 2025.
John V. Lindsay 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 designed 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. The new pieces draw 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.
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. Masterfully designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, a premier destination at the park is Gipson Play Plaza, delighting visitors of all ages with an amazing adventure playground, gathering spaces, 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 curved to conform to the rounded layout and paving of the park. The design also specifies no armrest on the ends to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Photo credit: Dix Park Conservancy
Herman Park Commons & Tsuru Family Terrace
Houston, Texas
The Herman Park Commons and Tsuru Family Terrace is a decked area designed around Hermann Park’s iconic oaks where visitors can enjoy shade, fresh air, gathering tables, and lounge furniture for families and groups to meet while enjoying the outdoors. The Commons is a revitalized 26-acre area in the southwest portion of Hermann Park designed by Michael Van Valkenburg Associates. The original Herman Park Bench was designed by the Olin Partnership of Pennsylvania specifically for Hermann Park in 2001. Our team worked with the designers of the Herman Park Commons to create a modified armless octagonal version of the bench that allows for the seating to wrap around the oak trees of the boardwalk.
Photo credit: Hermann Park Conservancy
Photo credit: Landscape Arts
Harlem Meer at Central Park
New York City
We are proud of our long history providing benches for Central Park since the 1900’s and continue to be the preferred manufacturer of the Central Park Settee today. This relaxed and simple bench design can be found in many areas of New York City’s iconic Central Park, including Literary Walk, the North Meadow, the Arthur Ross Pinetum, and now, the Harlem Meer. The Harlem Meer is a water body in the northeast corner of Central Park and is known as one of the most popular scenic destinations. The Central Park Settee is used all around Harlem Meer as well as on a viewing deck at the new Davis Center, a popular destination for families who can enjoy outdoor activities, including swimming, skating, and more.
Photo credit: Central Park Conservancy
Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park
Detroit, Michigan
Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park is a transformational 22-acre green space on the Detroit Riverfront. Designed to inspire play, wellness, and connection, the park features dynamic play areas for all ages, a serene water garden, an active Sport House for year-round recreation, and beautifully landscaped walking paths. The park opened in October 2025 after three years of construction. The park was designed by Michael Van Valkenburg Associates and features our Concrete and Wood Bench with new custom armrests. Our team worked with the designers to integrate the armrest design with the existing bench design, ensuring that the fit was exact and that the arm was in keeping with the spirit of the bench leg.
Photo credit: Detroit RiverFront Conservancy
Learn more
We invite you to 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:
