I've been involved with state parks over the years. I was on the board of Friends of Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area for a few years. Back then, the park system had an uneasy relationship with memorial trees and benches. Exactly for the reasons that you mention above.
They farmed the purchasing [[from donations) and maintenance of the benches off onto the Friends group. The ranger we worked with said he was more interested in the big picture. We, in the Friends group, could spend the time on some of the details.
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