The benches were made possible by a $2,000 grant from the Southern Colorado Rotary District.
The Rotary Club’s initial idea was to use the grant money to install a ducky sculpture in the park in tribute to their popular annual community event, Ducky Derby. However, the club came up empty in its search for such a sculpture.
The Town suggested that the money be used to purchase benches for the park through the Town’s Memorial Bench Program.
“We quickly decided that that was perfect,” said Dan Danser, the club’s past president.
The 6-foot-long, powder-coated benches include a plaque with the Rotary wheel and motto, “Service Above Self.”
Several Rotary Club members have visited the site to admire the benches, Danser said – particularly during the May 22 duck race, which raised more than $40,000 for local causes.
Festival Park was selected as the location for the benches, because it central to the Ducky Derby celebration.
“Festival Park is just a wonderful thing. It’s the equivalent of Central Park in Castle Rock,” Danser said. “We hope it will be an amenity that will make the park more attractive and more useful.”