NORTHAMPTON — One famous area of the Mill River once had a rope swing, but now it has something safer: a bench. 

Washington Avenue residents Marjorie Senechal and Stan Sherer saw the area along Mill River Greenway, whose paths are frequented by walkers of all sorts, as a gathering place in need of someplace to sit. 

A sunshower wasn’t enough to dampen high civic spirits during Tuesday’s gathering. Sherer said the donated bench is a gesture of “love and dedication.” 

“It’s our way of saying thank you to the city and everyone involved with making this pathway possible,” he said.

Sherer and Senechal were inspired to do something for the city by their neighbors, John and Gail Gaustad, who recently donated the riverfront parcel to the city.

Mayor David Narkewicz, who said City Councilor Dennis Bidwell was instrumental to pulling this all together, returned that gratitude.

“Thank you to Stan and Marjorie, and John and Gail for their civic generosity,” he said. 

Gail Gaustad grew up on the property.

“These trails have always been used publicly, and we thought it should be, in fact, public,” she said.

The couple said they sought to spur other neighbors to donate land along the same stretch. 

“We had hoped other neighbors would follow course,” John Gaustad said. 

Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com. 

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