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Update (10/21/2025): Transition to Official Central Park Conservancy Donation Page
We’re happy to share that the Central Park Conservancy (CPC) has now set up an official donation page for this effort:
We encourage all future donations to be made directly through the CPC link.
This GoFundMe campaign will be closed soon, and all funds collected here will be transferred in full to the Conservancy for the bench adoption in Professor Yu’s memory. Once the transfer is complete, all GoFundMe donors’ names will be added to the CPC donation page, so everyone’s contribution is acknowledged together.
Our beloved mentor and internationally respected landscape architect, Professor Kongjian Yu (俞孔坚), tragically passed away in a recent air accident. For those of us fortunate enough to learn from him, his guidance shaped not only our professional paths but also the way we see the world.
Central Park was one of his favorite places in New York. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted as a natural refuge in the heart of the city, it stood as a precedent for the very ideal Professor Yu pursued throughout his life’s work, living in harmony with nature. To honor his vision and contributions, we are raising funds to adopt a bench in Central Park in his memory.
Why a Bench?
• A Central Park bench is more than a seat — it is a place of rest, reflection, and connection with nature.
• It will stand as a lasting tribute to Professor Yu’s legacy, available for anyone — students, colleagues, and friends — to visit and remember him.
• The bench will carry a personalized plaque, inspiring future generations with his name and ideals.
How the Funds Will Be Used
• The Adopt-a-Bench program requires a one-time donation of $20,000.
• This cost includes the bench adoption, plaque installation, and ongoing care by the Central Park Conservancy.
• Any funds raised beyond the goal will support either park stewardship or a landscape architecture student scholarship fund.
Your contribution, no matter the size, will help us create a permanent memorial for Professor Yu and keep alive his vision of living with nature in harmony.