Curved concrete benches at the Herbert Kurz Peace Garden installed at Rockland Community College
A unique "peace garden" featuring curved concrete benches supplied by The Park and Facilities Catalog was recently installed at Rockland Community College in New York State.
This creative landscape called the Herbert Kurz Peace Garden is a gift donated to the college by the Kurz Family Foundation. That foundation was created by Howard Kurz, founder of the Nyack-based Presidential Life Insurance Company and a lifelong philanthropist and humanitarian.
The garden was designed by Elisabeth Voigt in collaboration with architect Jeffrey Hall. It consists of 42 curved benches that create an outdoor seating arrangement that flows throughout the grounds. The area was also decorated with 26 flowering dogwood trees and native plant species.
A series of fountain bowls provide a central focal point that adds to the overall tranquility of the area.
"Everybody loves it," Hall said. "It's a statement to the world and the college that we all belong together."
Hall said he became involved in the project through a relationship with the former president of the college, Cliff Wood. This is the architect's first commercial garden project.
He noted the redesign of the grounds from an unused grassy area to a vibrant landscape essentially transformed the spot into a "very popular" destination where students can relax, mingle or study.
"The benches really compliment the design more than anything else," said Hall. "The Park Catalog's lovely benches had a lot to do with it."
Rockland Community College is a two-year college located in Suffern, NY. The college enrolls about 7,500 students and was established in 1959. The college is part of the State University of New York school system. Students can attend more than 50 programs and earn both associate degrees and certificates. In addition, students can earn bachelors and masters degrees from the school through articulation programs with four-year colleges in the system.
"We are certainly proud to be able to provide these decorative concrete benches for this incredible landscape," said Adam Koonin, senior executive with The Park and Facilities Catalog. "We commend the Kurz Family Foundation and the college for providing this symbol of peace, coexistence and human diversity."
According to the college's website, the school offers the chance for local residents to create memorial benches or dedicate one of the flowering dogwood trees. Their contribution in memory of a loved one will be displayed with a commemorative plaque and the family will receive a certificate of acknowledgment.
Click on the link to see more information about this amazing "peace garden."
Aerial view of the "peace garden" which also features 26 native flowering dogwood trees and tranquil fountain bowls