The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge just got a little greater.

Members of the Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community’s Healthy People Healthy Suffolk Citizen Engagement Workgroup and several Suffolk organizations have joined forces to build and install benches placed along the refuge’s Washington Ditch.

Benches will be staggered along the 4.5-mile-long Washington Ditch, which starts near the park entrance and extends to Lake Drummond. Regina Brayboy, partnership executive director, said the project was coordinated by the Citizen Engagement Workgroup.

“It has been exciting to see pieces of the Healthy People Healthy Suffolk plan come together,” said Obici Healthcare Foundation Executive Director Gina Pitrone. “These benches help make Suffolk a more walkable community, and improve the built environment at the refuge. It is another way we are making the healthy choice the easy choice by installing benches to allow walkers to take breaks along the way and to encourage all generations to walk together.”

All four benches were built by students and staff at the Paul D. Camp Community College welding program. Douglas Wiggins, welding instructor, provided guidance to 11 of his high school students enrolled in the College’s welding program. Steel bars were used for the frame, and the seating surfaces were made out of wire mesh.

PDCCC was a bench sponsor, along with Bethlehem Christian Church and the Birdsong Peanuts Corporation.

After the benches left the college’s welding lab, they were delivered to Line-X of Suffolk, where they were covered in specially formulated polymers that permanently bond to surfaces.

“Normally, the coating is applied to truck beds that protects from just about anything Mother Nature can dish out,” said Line-X of Suffolk owner Steve Jones. “Line-X is an ideal product to protect the benches from harsh weather conditions. UV protection was added to prevent the color from fading.”

Volunteers from the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Bethlehem Christian Church were responsible for installing the benches.

“These benches are anchored in eight inches of concrete to make them bear-resistant,” said the refuge’s Deloras Freeman.

“The Great Dismal Swamp is a striking, beautiful natural resource,” Pitrone said. “Our community partners believe this new built environment will increase trail utilization and allow hikers to leisurely bask in the park’s splendor.”

The bench project was brought to fruition with a partnership that included Healthy People Healthy Suffolk Workgroup members Pastor Matt Winters of Bethlehem Christian Church, Master Naturalist Jean Carmean, Partnership Executive Director Regina Brayboy and Obici Healthcare Foundation Program Resource Officer Rick Spencer.

Community sponsors are the Birdsong Peanuts, Line-X of Suffolk, Paul D. Camp Community College and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.