There are some fresh options to take a load off downtown. The city is rolling out a new style of bench along 21st Street.

"Some of the benches that we've had, have been in place almost 30 years. So they're getting a little harder to repair and they need to be repaired more often, so it's time to replace them," said Lesley Anderson, the city's director of planning and development.

The newly installed benches are sleek and modern with light coloured wooden slats supported by gleaming metal. And perhaps most notably, they don't have backs.

Anderson said the style emerged a clear favourite after consulting with both the public and Downtown Saskatoon, which represents businesses in the area.

"We reviewed various plans and prototypes of the different pieces of streetscape materials and there was a desire for a more modern look for the furniture."

Anderson said whether the new style of bench will pop up in more spots around the city remains to be seen.

"They're just debuting on 21st Street. That's our major renewal project for the year and we'll be moving through our other older streetscapes over the next few years," said Anderson.

"If there are other options out there that are preferred, we'll work through that at the time."