Jamestown Vo-tech Center students Andrew Steinmetz (main builder) and Tamika Holte stand by one of the newly built benches for the Sensory Garden. Both are students in Bob Thoresen’s class that built these benches. Photo Submitted

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Jamestown’s Sensory Garden Taskforce is planning a spring installation of a new seating area near the sensory garden’s water feature.

“With the construction of the water feature, we realized we needed a seating area on the west side of the water feature,” said Paulette Ritter, Co-chair of the Chamber of Commerce’s Beautification Committee, one of the members of the Sensory Garden’s taskforce.

Currently, the water feature  seating area is in the sensory garden at the end of the boardwalk.

“Hearing the soft sound of the water falling, we thought three new benches directly off the main walking path would be a nice addition to the garden,” Ritter added. “We turned to the Jamestown Vo-tech Center for the construction of these three benches as over the years students from these classes designed and built the first five benches and the 32 planters in the garden. A few years ago, Bob Thoresen, the Vo-tech Center instructor, even brought his students over to the garden so that they could do some repair work on the two bridges that lead into the garden.”

“Having these new benches directly off the main walking path will give Solien-Denault park walkers a great place to rest and enjoy the new water feature,” said Doug Hogan, Jamestown Park and Recreation Director. “We have received so many compliments about the sensory garden. It is exciting to see it expand once again.”

“We are extremely grateful to Mr. Thoresen for all of his help and support these past years,” said Bob Martin, Co-chair of the Chamber of Commerce’s Beautification Committee. “Mr. Thoresen has helped make this garden a community collaboration. The benches are built and ready for a spring installation. Now, we just need spring to come and stay.”