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I’m always the last one to spot a trend, so maybe this is news to no one but me. But the fairgrounds now have benches with messages of up to 14 characters — often the names of people or organizations — built into them. A visit to the State Fair Foundation’s website reveals that the benches are a perq of membership at the $1,500 level. That puts the “recognition benches” in the middle range, between recognition bricks for $250 and recognition tables for $2,500. It amounts to selling the naming rights to infrastructure. For city managers in a struggling economy, I’d like to offer a thought: recognition manholes.
Meanwhile, the Public Insight Network here at MPR wants your help identifying cool, out-of-the-way spots on the fairgrounds. What’s your favorite hidden highlight? I’m partial to Steichen’s grocery Store and Deli, myself.
We’ll feature a Fair Hound every day of the fair on All Things Considered, and in other ways on the Internets.
