Imagine getting paid to design a park for a good 30 kids. So at least 30 adult people might wanna enjoy watching their kids run around busting the dance moves and the jumping and jumping and smashing at the park. Maybe 10 of them want to sit down. So if I was a total fucking asshole I would want at least 10 seats. Usually people don’t want to mingle with other possible covid sources so 10 benches. Okay now you have a park, and 10 benches. The sun indicates good weather which is the usual time when one would like to go to the park. Unless Seattle ofcourse. OK so you need to make a shade for the sun and a roof for rain.
Now comes the tricky bit. I know a lot of park designers are total fucking retard assholes, but let’s assume you want people to have fun and enjoy at least the one fucking bench. Say you would like this enjoyment to happen between 8 am and 8 pm during all or most sunny months. Ah nevermind, its too complicated.
Your guy is kind of over the top and his humor is a bit off, but he’s not wrong. A couple strategically planted trees OR a couple more carefully planned covers would provide shade to the benches most of the day.
A park I frequent has three large triangle shades suspended overhead that cover most benches and some of the play area most of the day. That’s good urban design.
This is economic design. One shade that barely covers two benches at noon.
I specifically said this is decent urban design, not good. I agree with you.