Memorial Bench

Honor Your Loved Ones in Our Parks

A memorial bench is a unique way to honor a friend, family member or loved one, while also enhancing your favorite space for all to enjoy. Whether commemorating a special life moment or paying tribute to someone's journey, memorial benches help you celebrate and remember.

Getting Your Personalized Bench

We’ll work with you on your memorial bench options and answer any questions to ensure the bench properly honors the memory of your loved one. Start by submitting your contact information to the "Request A Bench" form below, or reach out to our Executive Director Sarah at sarah@friendsofdmparks.org. Here’s how it works from there:

Request a Location and Your Engraved Message

If you have a park in mind for your bench, you can make a request. Des Moines Park and Recreation will work with you to determine a final location based on availability and park requirements. Benches include a personalized engraved plaque.

Make a One-Time Gift

A one-time gift of $5,000 will secure your new bench order and help make a park experience more meaningful in both functional and symbolic ways.
There are also existing benches in the Des Moines park system that can be personalized with an engraved plaque for $3,000. This group of benches have been previously installed at: Riverview Park (3 benches available), Brook Run Park (1 bench available), Cohen Park (3 benches available), Chesterfield Park (6 benches available).

Get Your Bench Installed In Spring or Fall

Benches are installed in the Spring and Fall at the start of the seasons. An order for your Spring installation needs to occur by the end of the preceding calendar year. A Fall order would need to occur by the end of August.

Johnston Family

John and Joellyn loved walking through the park with their beloved dog, no matter the season. Their family felt like a bench would be a lovely way to honor them in a place they treasured.

The Friends of Des Moines Parks is a nonprofit 501c3 organization with a mission to preserve, protect, improve, and promote the use of Des Moines’ parks, greenways, and recreational programs for the benefit of all neighborhoods, residents, and visitors. The Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department is not responsible for replacing benches in the event that they are stolen, damaged due to normal wear and tear, natural disaster or vandalism. Please contact your tax professional to determine if your purchase is tax-deductible.