Fredericks donates bench for birdwatchers on trail

Dave Fredericks hopes his donation of a bench to the Neff Wetlands will inspire others to follow suit.

?My wife is a birdwatcher, and we like to go out for walks on the Neff Wetlands,? Fredericks said. ?[My wife?s] been more and more into bird watching, and there?s a spot that is better than some areas as far as seeing birds across the pond.

?She mentioned it would sure be nice if one of the benches for the trail was in this area.?

Fredericks took it upon himself to see that happen.

He first consulted Dave Neff and park superintendent Pam Craff, who welcomed the bench as long as it wouldn?t interfere with mowing.

Fredericks then began looking for a bench that wouldn?t be too high for Sylvia?s feet to reach the ground or too deep to be comfortable.

Finding none, he turned to longtime friend Mike Pech, and together they came up with a design using treated lumber and a metal framework.

Pech donated his labor to construct the bench, and Steve Thornton of Schaus-Vorhies Contracting Inc. donated installation.

Though Fredericks surprised his wife with the bench ? not recognized with any plaque or dedication ? it?s meant for everyone to enjoy about halfway along the trail between the Lamson Woods and Glasgow Road parking lots.

?We thought it was just a really good thing to have for all people using the trail,? Fredericks said. ?[Sylvia] really enjoys it, and in 2011, she saw 55 different species of birds from the dike.

?It would be neat if other people would do something similar or give cash [to the trail system],? Fredericks said.