The VCA Bench Sponsorship Program is an opportunity for VCA members to fund the placement of a park bench along Verandah’s walkways. The sponsorship of a park bench is a meaningful way for VCA members to honor a special person or loved one, recognize a life achievement/milestone, or express appreciation while contributing to the beauty and quality of life in Verandah.
Sponsorship of a bench will fund the cost of a bench with recognition plaque, its installation, and donation to the community. This document outlines the policy, process, and terms of the VCA Bench Sponsorship Program.
Links to additional Bench Sponsorship information:
Bench Samples Initial Bench Locations Agreement & Application
POLICY/PROCEDURE: This policy provides a coordinated and consistent approach for accepting and processing sponsorship requests and to outline the terms of sponsorship.
Sponsorship Fee: The sponsorship fee will cover the cost of a bench, a plaque with engraved message, its installation, and administrative fees with Lee County. The cost of sponsorship at program inception is estimated to be between $2,200 and $2,500 with the final amount based on the material and labor costs at the time of purchase.
Bench Design: The P&I and Traffic & Safety Committees will select a commercial grade bench. The selected bench will be a maximum of six feet in length and installed on a concrete pad. The bench will be composed of recycled materials to provide for minimum maintenance and maximum bench life. The two benches being considered are illustrated in Exhibit A and may change based upon future availability.
Bench Locations: 5 bench locations were selected by the Landscape Committee and presented to the P&I and Traffic & Safety Committees. The locations selected are described in Exhibit B. The following elements were considered in the selection:
- Location of irrigation and any utilities (above and below ground)
- Potential disruption of mowing/maintenance and other landscape features
- Ease in access from the walkway
- Scenic view
- Spacing at reasonable intervals on VCA common areas along Verandah Blvd.
If additional locations are needed in the future, approval is subject to the above guidelines, review by the Landscape Committee, and approval of the Board.
While Verandah is a private gated community, it is governed by Lee County ordinance and law. Any placement of cement pads is subject to approval by Lee County with a Limited Development Order (LDO). As Verandah was designed to have a specified amount of green space, any addition of impervious surfaces must be approved by Lee County. For ease of administration, the LDO will not be filed until there are 4 sponsors for the 5 locations.
Application to Sponsor: Upon announcement of the preapproved site location list, a member or group of members may apply for sponsorship. Application forms will be on the VCAlife.com website or obtained from the VCA offices. Multiple requests for the same location will be determined by drawing. Payment will not be required until there are 4 sponsors for the benches. Once notified that payment is due, the sponsor has 14 days to submit the required payment.
The application will include the inscription copy for the plaque. The VCA has final approval of the inscription copy.
Signing of an application by a member(s) is an agreement to the terms of this policy.
Maintenance and Replacement of Sponsored Benches: Ongoing maintenance encompassing power washing/cleaning/minor repairs will be performed by the VCA. The contract landscape company will maintain the grass and landscape surrounding the installation site.
The VCA cannot guarantee the longevity of any bench. Once the bench reaches the end of its useful life, an outreach to the original sponsor(s) will be made. They will be given the first option to sponsor a new bench at the then current sponsorship fee. If the original sponsor(s) declines or cannot be contacted after a reasonable effort, the location would be opened to the community for new sponsorship. The same process will be followed if the bench is destroyed by an Act of God.
Should an ongoing or new sponsorship not be secured, the Board may at its discretion retire the bench site and restore the site to a landscaped area; or by the vote of the Board of Directors approve the funding of a new bench through the operating budget.
The sponsorship of a bench is not tax deductible. Payment of a sponsorship fee does not give or imply ownership of the bench or site nor convey any specific rights or privileges to the sponsor(s).