Client
: Oberlin
College, Office
of the President.
Location
: Oberlin,
Ohio – Underground
Railroad Park.
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Over the next two
years, The Toni
Morrison Society
is installing 20
benches across the
country in places
significant to Black
History. Oberlin
was selected for
its role as a key
stop in the Underground
Railroad. The Oberlin
installation, dedicated
April 23, 2009,
was the second bench
completed in the
series. Nobel Laureate
and author of 8
books, Dr. Toni
Morrison gave a
speech in the Park,
presenting her bench
to the community.
The
Toni Morrison Bench
was sited within
the Underground
Railroad Park overlooking
the busiest intersection
in Oberlin---Main
and Lorain. PlaceMakers
designed and built
this Park featuring
colorful native
plants in 2007.
PlaceMakers played
a key role in deciding
the location of
the Morrison Bench,
integrating it within
the Park. PlaceMakers
also designed and
built the setting
for the Bench. Dennis
Grieve, Oberlin
College Grounds
Manager, designed
the new plantings
immediately surrounding
the Bench. The Grounds
Department and community
volunteers installed
the plants.
The
Bench was sited
near the existing
area light to support
safe use at night.
The existing landform
was wrapped around
the circular bench
area designed with
a sandstone and
bonded gravel pattern,
and surrounded by
a low sandstone
retaining wall and
plantings. All these
features give bench-sitters
a secure, womb-like
feeling while watching
the bustle of the
street.
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