OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches

by samwillis • 3 years ago

78 32 3 years ago

sircastor• 3 years ago

I thought about dedicating a bench in the name of my dad. He was cremated and I struggled with what to do with his ashes (and scattering them was an odd adventure on its own). A bench seems like a nice way to remember someone without taking up a plot of land somewhere.

edent7• 3 years ago

That's a lovely idea.

andrewshadura• 3 years ago

We installed a bench when my grandmother died. Since memorial benches is not a thing in the country we come from, we installed one in the UK in a place she liked visiting.

unnervingduck2• 3 years ago

On their about page: >OpenStreetMap has a list of (nearly) every bench in the world – but they don’t record whether there is an inscription on it.

Weird since OpenStreetMap does have an inscription=* key, which could be combined with the historic=memorial and memorial=bench tags. So what the site does could very well be achieved with OpenStreetMap alone.

globular-toast• 3 years ago

I've personally added inscriptions to the Map because I noticed other people had. I assumed, therefore, the data was coming from OSM. Then I noticed they have pictures of the benches too.

intrasight• 3 years ago

There are lots of memorial benches around where I am. After reading your comment, I decided to go look at an example photo. Randomly zoomed in to Seville, Spain and click on one.

https://openbenches.org/bench/4860

Wow - what a bench! Not at all what I was expecting. Then I went to Rome, Italy and the reverse happened. Just a normal bench.

https://openbenches.org/bench/11382

Ajedi32• 3 years ago

You can link to images in OSM too[1], but you need to find a place to actually host the files. So far the best option seems to be to upload the images to the Wikimedia commons and then link from OSM using the wikimedia_commons tag[2], though the UX of that is pretty awkward.

[1] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:image

[2] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:wikimedia_commons

NoboruWataya• 3 years ago

I understood that to mean not that OSM can't record that information, just that it doesn't - I assume people tend not to include that level of detail when contributing to OSM. So the benefit of this site is that it focuses contributor's attention on the inscription and prompts them to include it.

It's a cool idea - I wonder if they feed the data back up to OSM. If not they (or someone) presumably could easily enough.

Also interesting and linked from their About page is https://openplaques.org/

Rygian• 3 years ago

A general tendence in OSM is that things that "aren't mapped" will end up being mapped. For example, natural=tree was originally intended for notable trees only, but if you look at the map today you'll see each individual tree mapped on parks, boulevards, picnic sites, regardless of its notability.

So in OSM, it's not that it can't record, or that it doesn't record. It's always that not many mappers haven't yet focused on the topic.

alexmuller• 3 years ago

There's some recent good news about this in a GitHub issue: https://github.com/openbenches/openbenches.org/issues/232

edent7• 3 years ago

I'm one of the people behind OpenBenches.

When I wrote that page (6 years ago) there was no easy way to add inscriptions to benches.

I'm happy that has changed and we now have a signed agreement with OSM to allow them to reuse our data.

unnervingduck2• 3 years ago

That's awesome! Benefits of open licenses, it's a win-win for both parties.

cowsandmilk• 3 years ago

For those looking, https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:memorial%3Dbench# has an example for how to map a memorial bench with an inscription:

pacificpendant• 3 years ago

A long time ago, so the details are vague and may have changed, I was interested in adding trees and tagging their species in OSM. I asked some people that know more about OSM than me and was told that OSM doesn't want to store data that isn't used for rendering the maps.

There are sometimes links to external data in OSM using Wikidata for example.

mpawelski• 3 years ago

Really? There are OSM wiki articles that describes how to tag tree species [0]. The usage also seems to be pretty high [1].

[0] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:species [1] https://taginfo.openstreetmap.org/keys/species#chronology

habi• 3 years ago

The standard layer on osm.org (OSM Carto) does render trees/forests differently, depeding how the trees are tagged. Search for 'leaftype' on https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Category:OSM_Carto_rende... to see for yourself.

vidarh• 3 years ago

My favourite one is already on there:

https://openbenches.org/bench/5849

"Nina Theresa Jenkinson 4th of May 1959 - 5th May 2017 She took pleasure in annoying the fisherman by feeding the ducks"

(it's by a private fishing lake within a public park; I don't know if she just liked feeding the ducks (but she could've done that many other places nearby) or if it was a passive aggressive demonstration against catch and release fishing, or against having a private lake there, but either way I find the inscription is memorable)

dairylee• 3 years ago

My favourite is on there also:

https://openbenches.org/bench/198

"In memory of jam sandwiches with all my love"

edent7• 3 years ago

Lovely to see our work on HN.

We are looking for supporters to keep us going. You can donate with GitHub sponsors, OpenCollective, or by buying a T-shirt https://openbenches.org/support

Of course, the best way to help is to submit a photo :-)

flipbrad• 3 years ago

On a scale of 1-10, how silly do you think it is that sites like your will likely have to comply with the 270+ page Online Safety Bill if you get a "significant number" of UK users?

https://wikimedia.org.uk/2023/06/online-safety-bill-open-let...

https://wikimedia.org.uk/2023/06/frequently-asked-questions/

kawsper• 3 years ago

There's a lot of memorial benches missing in the area I'm staying at in Malvern, UK. But I found out that C.S Lewis have a bench dedicated to him by the local theatre.

martinpw• 3 years ago

How does one go about donating and dedicating a bench? Obviously depends on country, location etc. Just looking for general pointers.

edent7• 3 years ago

Usually speak to your local council. Or whoever controls the local park.

Some places have too many benches and operate a waiting list.

Costs vary - some places just charge the price of the plaque, others expect yearly maintenance.

FearNotDaniel• 3 years ago

Went looking for Rik Mayall's bench in Hammersmith, London. Wasn't disappointed:

https://openbenches.org/bench/5558

Noticed there is only one bench posted in my current home city, will keep an eye out during lunchtime wanderings and post a few later... nice idea.

jordanrobinson• 3 years ago

I went looking for and found this one:

https://openbenches.org/bench/14519

I do wonder if they're going to have to update it at some point though.

Alakrintis• 3 years ago

Gonna be my new hobby !

edent7• 3 years ago

I'll warn you now - it'll ruin every future holiday ;-)

twic2• 3 years ago

I was going to tease you by suggesting adding the memorial plaques on Swanage Pier, of which there are thousands, but i see someone has in fact already added the benches!

edent7• 3 years ago

There have been some very long days trekking through promenades, botanic gardens, and graveyards.

Rewarding though. And we even have a leaderboard as an incentive.

jdeve1op• 3 years ago

Also https://virtusaga.com, my hobby project since 2019. Maybe could merge these two.

Sorry for hijacking :)

edent7• 3 years ago

If you're happy to share your data, were happy to incorporate it.

My contact details are on https://edent.tel/

OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches

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