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When you picture benches in public spaces, chances are you don't think much about them other than their most basic function: they provide a convenient place to sit in the beauty of nature.
However, benches are much more than that! If you integrate benches into your community with tact and care, they can completely transform the space around them in several ways.
Benches serve several important purposes, from bringing the community together to improving accessibility. Today, we’ll explore their functionality in the community beyond their obvious use.
Strategically placed benches offer the ability for community members to interact and engage with each other in an open and comfortable environment. It provides an opportunity for a group of friends to catch up and chat; moms walking with their babies have the chance to chat together; a group of joggers can chit-chat and take a break after a run through the park – benches invite everyone to slow down and truly enjoy the moment.
Hey, you may even have the chance to speak with someone completely new! Not to mention it provides accessibility to public spaces by allowing those with physical challenges to have convenient and comfortable places to pause and take a rest. Overall, benches create a more inclusive and interconnected community.
See our Victorian Bench for an elegant option.
Listen, a beautiful park decorated with flowers, green grass, and pathways is awesome. But no public space is truly aesthetically balanced without a well-placed bench. Benches not only make a space more accessible, but they also add to its visual identity. Benches aren't just intended for practical use, either – they are also design-oriented and can add some serious visual appeal to a space.
You can choose a bench that truly matches the public space based on design and application. A cohesive public space that feels mindful and well-executed can also create a better sense of comfort and belonging. Imagine coming home to a poorly decorated apartment or house that feels haphazard. Not very inviting, is it? On the other hand, a thoughtfully put-together space creates a sense of belonging that invites people to stop and stay a while.
Our Contour Bench is a great, versatile option for open public spaces.
The world we live in is always moving so fast that few of us have time to focus on things like health and overall well-being. You may be more focused on work and family. You may feel you don't enjoy the confines of a crowded gym. Whatever the case may be, having an accessible community space can promote health and wellness.
Having a place to stop and rest can greatly promote physical and mental well-being.
There are several health benefits to getting outside and enjoying a beautifully designed community space. Not only does it provide an opportunity to exercise, it allows you to get outside of work and life and take a moment to breathe. This can give you the much-needed break required to keep your mind clear and moving forward.
Rest is necessary to be a successful person during busy and difficult times. Having an accessible and easy-to-navigate outdoor space promotes outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, exercise, and social interaction.
Our Urban Flare Bench can definitely help you create a more cohesive outdoor space.
As we've mentioned, benches are necessary for creating diverse and inclusive spaces by promoting accessibility. Benches are rest spots for people of all ages and physical capabilities, ensuring that all public spaces can be enjoyed by everybody.
Provided that benches are strategically placed, public spaces like parks and lakes can be made accessible and welcoming for people of any age and capability. Whether you're a 72-year-old who enjoys jogging or a 12-year-old who temporarily needs crutches, benches create a welcoming space where anyone who needs to take a break in nature has the option to do so.
Our Midtown Bench could be exactly what you need!
Public spaces are a major element when it comes to supporting local businesses. Think about it: a strategically placed bench outside of a local cafe where you can smell wafting aromas of coffee and fresh-baked goods is an excellent advertisement. Knowing that a community’s downtown core is accessible also can help local businesses by assuring the public that they’ll have a convenient place to rest if needed while they’re exploring and shopping.
Also, imagine grabbing a house-made sandwich at a busy local sub shop. The tables have been taken up, and it’s a beautiful day outside. Rather than having to take your food home and wait to enjoy it, you find a conveniently placed bench where you’re able to sit and enjoy your food in nature.
You bite into your sandwich in the stunning summer sunlight and even have the chance to catch up with a couple of friends in the community walking by. You tell your friends how lovely your sandwich was, and you make a date to grab another with them the following week. Everyone benefits!
Our Ergo Bench just might be the perfect option for your small business.
Benches serve more than just a practical purpose – they play a key role in organizing a public space while offering safety. They separate walkways from roadways; they guide pedestrians through public spaces; they can be placed near key landmarks, letting people know where they're at; they also ensure those with physical limitations have safe places to stop and take a necessary rest.
Not only this, but well-placed benches also increase open surveillance by allowing individuals to have a good look at their surroundings from a public vantage point. This increases the overall security of public space by encouraging others to have a keen eye on the area around them.
Benches can also be used as markers to identify key features of an outdoor space, whether it’s a landmark or something as simple as a scenic place to sit and relax. This can help casual passersby to have more wherewithal when traveling new and unfamiliar trails.
Want something a little more classic? Consider choosing our Heritage Bench.
As we’ve mentioned in this blog post, benches aren’t just convenient places to rest; they provide increased accessibility and inclusivity for people with different physical capabilities. They’re perfect for people regardless of age and ability, and when placed properly and designed with accessibility in mind, they can make public spaces far more inclusive and accessible.
Benches can be a gateway to essential services such as public markets, transit stops, and other public services that otherwise wouldn’t be easy to access. This not only enables people with physical limitations to access these services, but it also increases the inclusivity of public businesses. This inclusivity and accessibility can boost business, thereby benefiting the economy while providing access to more of the public.
Not only this, but benches ironically improve the walkability of public spaces. By having regular rest stops along a trail, more people can feel comfortable walking or jogging along without having to worry about having a place to rest. Especially for individuals who have physical limitations or are working to improve their physical capabilities.
Having benches along the way allows everyone, regardless of age or physical prowess, to enjoy public spaces without worrying they’re going to reach their limits and have no place to rest.
Outside of their practical and inclusive uses, benches can also be memorial landmarks. Memorial benches are iconic structures that can be used to immortalize a person’s memory and actions in a way that allows the public to engage with them. This offers the public the opportunity to learn more about beloved community members, bringing them together and experiencing history through a heritage landmark.
Not only this, but this offers the ability to honour your beloved community members that are accessible to everyone, encouraging reflection and peace, and building community connections. It creates a legacy for those who have impacted the community while encouraging people of all ages and abilities to enjoy public spaces in their memory. This allows the memory of a beloved community member to continue making a positive difference by offering a resting spot that is completely accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
See our array of memorial benches to see what options we have available.
Classic Displays has a myriad of benches for different applications and outdoor spaces. Whether you want something more elegant or practical, we have options to suit your community's needs. Originally founded in 1977, over the last 46+ years, we’ve expanded from Christmas decorations into community furniture and much more. Contact us today for more information on our wide options for site furniture.