SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Five benches recently installed in the borough's downtown district are drawing favorable reviews.
"It's a good idea 'cause of the senior citizens in town. When they (go) downtown shopping they need a place to rest," Donna Thompson, 65, a borough resident, said as she sat on a chair in a local store Wednesday.
"We wanted to do something to improve the look of the downtown," Lorie Reichert, chairwoman of the design committee for Our Haven Foundation, said. The foundation is dedicated to revitalizing the downtown.
A grant of $3,000 from the Herman and Mary J. Zwerling Community Trust was used to pay for three of the benches and each plaque on them, Reichert said. The other two benches were paid for with funds from the Schuylkill Haven Midget Cheerleaders and the Greater Schuylkill Haven Area Business Association.
The benches were installed in front of the economic development office, Valenti's II, The Jungle and Stine's Pharmacy, all on East Main Street, and at the Edward Jones firm, 17 St. John St.
According to Reichert, suggestions were made about what to do for the area by those on the committee, which finally settled on the benches from Kirby Built, a Wisconsin-based firm.
Property owners gave permission for the benches to be placed at the aforementioned sites.
Derek Flail, general manager of The Jungle, a gym setup, said the addition of the benches can have positive benefits.
"It makes the downtown look busy. It keeps it looking alive," he said.
A couple of days ago, he said, women were sitting on the bench in front of the business.
Carl Berger, economic development director, said the benches are "a welcome addition to the borough."
Yon Schlear, 62, a borough resident, agreed, saying the benches were nice.
Borough Mayor Mike Devlin said the benches added a nice touch to the borough.
"I love the benches personally. I'm definitely in favor of the benches," he said after a council meeting Wednesday.
Council President Marlin Berger Jr. had also had positive comments about the benches.
"They dress the town up a little bit," he said.