Memorial Tree & Bench Program

The Town of LaFayette and the LaFayette Optimists Club have developed a Memorial Tree & Bench Program, described herein, at its Stafford Park to give LaFayette residents the opportunity to sponsor a tree or bench in memory of loved ones.   The following describes the program followed by a request & agreement form for those interested in sponsoring a tree or bench.
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Trees 

The LaFayette Optimists Club will plant and care for the trees and plaques. Each new tree will be approximately 6 feet tall. For trees that die early due to causes beyond of the control of the Optimists, the resident will be given first choice to sponsor a new tree. 
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Memorial Plaques

Tree plaques: 6 x 8 aluminum plate on 20” aluminum post, installed at base of tree​

Bench plaques: 3 x 9 aluminum plate with plastic engraved insert, installed on top of bench back

Each will have standardized wording, shown below, but can be customized with a maximum of 45 characters upon approval of Optimists. No other signage is permitted.

The Optimists will replace plaques that are lost or vandalized.

​Timing

​Trees will be planted up to twice per year: once in Spring and once in Fall, therefore sponsorship requests need to be received by March 1 for Spring planting and by August 1 for Fall planting. Benches will be ordered and installed once per year between May and September, therefore bench sponsorship requests need to be received by April 1. Sponsors will be notified of scheduled planting and installation dates.

Sponsorship Fees

The following are sponsorship fees for trees planted and benches requested in 2023:
Trees:                 All species                          $540
Benches:            Malibu                               $875
                           Heritage                          $1,575

Benches

The LaFayette Optimists Club will install and care for the benches and plaques. There will be two choices of benches as shown below, Malibu and Heritage. Only Heritage benches can be selected for the Pond area, while both benches can be selected for all other locations. All benches will be 6-feet wide and include anchoring. The Malibu is made of recycled plastic with a life expectancy of 10 years. The Heritage is made of recycled plastic seat and back and powder-coated cast aluminum frames with a life expectancy of 20 years. After the life of the bench, as assessed by the Optimists, the current sponsor or family will be given first choice to sponsor a new bench.
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Malibu

Heritage

Request & Approval Process

Residents interested in sponsoring a tree and/or bench can submit their request by:

• ​Completing the Sponsorship Request and Agreement Form found below, hit Submit
• Calling the Town Clerk (315-677-3674)

All requests will be forwarded to the LaFayette Advisory Conservation Commission (LACC), who will contact the resident, finalize the Form, and coordinate sponsorship payment (due before the Optimists place the tree/bench order).

Responsibilities

• ​The Town, via the LACC, is responsible for responding to resident requests, and approving or denying the requests.
• The Optimists are responsible for purchasing, installing and maintaining the trees, benches and plaques.
• Interested residents are responsible for submitting sponsorship requests to the Town Clerk and upon approval, submitting payment to the Optimists.

Warranty

​The trees and benches will be owned by the Optimists Club. There is no warranty, implied or expressed, to sponsors.

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Memorial Tree & Bench Locations - Stafford Park, LaFayette, NY

South Ballfield

Pond & Courts

Playground & Dog Park