First no perennial beds that require upkeep So nice trees for shade and some nice tables maybe a small are undercover for bad weather all easy to care for and the trees over time will grow sort of like this You will need some equipment to level thw space and mybe approach a tree farm for nice biggeer trees at a discount for your group. I would keep the pea gravel for the base it requires littl upkeep and the leaves can be blown off easily . The cement for the tables is agreat idea but if not in the budget right now just heavy enough table to keep them where they belong

Maybe adding some low-maintenance perennials. Edging the pea gravel with wood or stone borders can help. Planting a few colorful annuals will bring some vibrant pops of color. maybe a few benches for extra seating. Good luck with your project!

Beautiful setting. If you have a professional gardening firm to take care of the area, ask them what kind of border they would find best to confine the gravel. The area may need some grading to reduce puddling - after removing equipment, the dirt takes a while to settle.

Picnic tables should be the easy maintenance kind that you can wipe off with an old newspaper. not the rustic wood kind that is difficult to clean off even with a scrub brush and bucket. My area has a lot of opportunistic black widow spiders, so we prefer light colored tables that show any spiders.

Yikes! There are metal picnic tables and benches that are like a grill so spills and such go right through and don't cause a big mess.

You do not need flowers here. The woods are beautiful enough. Flowers, even perennials are a lot to maintain in a public area. If you really want to do it, then get some large barrel planters to plant in so they are off the ground and will not get trampled. Place them in the corners or may and "entry" with them. Remember someone will need to weed, deadhead, and water them.

Make sure the trash cans are on the way to the parking lot, not back near the woods.