How I did it: I've known about the Richard Wright bench since it was dedicated circa 2002, close to 10 years ago. It's just that i *never* go into Fort Gren Park. Then yesterday I had a meeting nearby and I had to walk around the park to get there.  Yesterday in NYC there was a suprise snow storm, so I never made it to the meeting.

When I came home and was warming up under a cover with some hot chocolate I was thinking too bad I didn't get a chance to see the bench since I was right there.

I went online to try to find out where it was.  Today I was in the area again with my family.  We were headed home from Chuck E. Cheese. I told them to go home, I had a hunting expedition to tend to. Legend has it that Richard Wright wrote his famous tome Native Son on a bench near a huge moment (forget the name) in the park.

First I walked a few blocks to the park and entered looking for the monument.It wasn't hard to find as it's very, very tall.  Next I began to peruse all of the dedicated benches nearby.  I asked some staff members who had no idea who Richard Wright was.  They told me to go to the vistor's center, which I did. I called out "hello!" several times. I could hear someone talking on the phone, but they never responded to me. So I went back out to continue searching.

Finally in a little plaza, near what looks like it used to be a small fountain or pool, I found the bench off by itself.

After a decade in the park, the bench is in such a state of disrepair that I could hardly read the dedication plaque. I couldn't sit on the bench as it was still wet outside. I'll go again one day to luxoriate in this piece of history.
 

Lessons & tips: It would have been helpful to have a map. Other than that it was a matter of just "doing it!"

Oct 30, 2011, 03:26PM PDT | 0 comments | 5 cheers