before peeling, cracking, etc. Isn't it better to color the plastic as its poured/molded?

And who's to say they aren't just waiting to replace the remaining benches with chairs anyway. Would you have preferred they wait another year before they had the rest of the money to do the whole job? I really don't get the complaint, no matter what the reason. I'll take whatever we can get. Who even sees those benches anyway? Certainly doesn't show up on TV.