Park bench dedicated to retired Williamsport parks department employee

Galen Beach recently retired from the Parks Dept. and got to enjoy the view from his newly dedicated bench Friday afternoon in Brandon Park during the Arbor Day observance.
A number of trees and benches were dedicated for the observance by the Brandon Park Commission including a Swamp White Oak in memory of Vicki Smith, a Weeping Willow in memory of Airforce veteran Earl E. Winder and a Red Oak in memory of former Williamsport Mayor Jessie Bloom.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Galen Beach sat down on a bench named in his honor to soak in the atmosphere at the annual Arbor Day service Friday afternoon at Brandon Park.

Most days, Beach sat down on a powerful lawn mower as an employee with Williamsport Streets and Parks Department cutting grass in the 42-acre park, the crown jewel of the city, which recently added two renovated Little League baseball fields and $3.1 million of investment by Lycoming College in its baseball-dedicated facility. The park also is having the historic bandshell renovated, repainted, restored and made fully accessible, so that Concerts in the Park can resume.

At the ceremony, near the Rotunda, nestled beneath a cluster of trees, Beach was recognized. He was retiring after 17 years with the city and 30 years with another manufacturer.

“It’s another chapter opening in my life,” Beach said, acknowledging it was his third week to be retired and looking like it with a relaxed smile and eager to begin an adventurous road trip to Nevada.

“I will miss being in the park, for sure,” he said, adding how it was a “great job.”

He recognized his wife, Christine, who walked beside him, and daughter for purchasing the bench.

“To dedicate this to me is quite an honor,” he said.

If visitors enjoy the park, they can thank men such as Beach, who labored to beautify the park along with Chad Eckert, the city arborist and forester, and other parks department employees.

“It is a team effort,” Beach said.

As for his wish, Beach wants people to rest a spell on the bench, which is positioned in the center of a gazebo donated in honor of the Williamsport Area School District Class of 1999. “This area of the park is gorgeous,” Beach said.

“When the old bench was here, people were on it all of the time,” he said. “Hopefully, they will get to use this.”