Organizers happy with 'bring back the bench' protest

Think no one cares about a missing bench?

Well, think again.

It looks like at least 29 people care, because that's how many turned out Saturday in raincoats and lawn chairs at Eagle Launch at Farragut State Park to protest the removal of the launch's single bench.

"There were members of the Chamber of Commerce, members of the Bayview Community Council. There were some folks who I have never seen before," said Bayview resident Sheryl Puckett, who organized the event.

Together, they bemoaned the suffering of their glutes since the park removed the wood bench from the launch a year and a half ago.

"I hope they (the park staff) will reconsider it," Puckett said. "I hope they'll see this isn't just Sheryl Puckett wanting a bench, but there are numerous folks wanting the bench to be there."

To amplify their grievances, Puckett has posted a YouTube video featuring the protesters speaking of how there is no longer a bench to stretch on after a walk, and no other places to park that offer the same view.

The video seems to be directed at the park manager Randall Butt, with the title "Mr. Butt Bring Back Our Bench," and runs nine minutes long.

"It did surprise me that some felt as deeply as I did," said Puckett, adding that she plans to e-mail the YouTube link and Butt's phone number to everyone on her 300-member contact list.

Butt said that after scrutinizing the issue, the park board and director have determined that the bench can't be replaced.

"The protest is an expression of freedom of speech, and we certainly respect that, but unfortunately the protest isn't followed up with actually looking at what the issues are," Butt said.

He explained that with 360,000 coming through the park each year, the park administration deemed it best to keep the boat launch for just the boating public in order to prevent accidents.

The bench invited crowds to loiter around the launch during high boating activity, Butt said.

"We don't want to wait for a bad accident to say, 'Oh wow, we should have done something,'" he said.

He pointed out that the protesters, who sat by Eagle Launch in their own lawn chairs, had demonstrated an acceptable solution.

"We aren't restricting anyone from being along the shoreline," he said. "People can sit on the rocks, they can bring their own lawn chairs. We just aren't providing a bench."