A place to Pause: Community wellness bench

A Place to Pause is a community bench designed to create small opportunities for creative expression, connection, and mental well-being. Benches placed throughout the community feature different interactive backings that encourage people to engage with their surroundings while they pause. Inspired by research from the Mayo Clinic, which explores how creative activities such as art can support healing and overall well-being, the design brings these ideas into everyday public spaces. By turning ordinary moments of waiting or resting into opportunities for creativity, the benches encourage people to slow down, express themselves, and connect with their community.

The Mayo Clinic article emphasizes that creative activities can support well-being by providing opportunities for self-expression, reducing stress, and processing emotions. A Place to Pause translates these ideas into a public setting by making creativity something people can participate in without needing to seek out a formal art activity. The interactive backings allow people to draw, write, or respond to prompts while they wait or take a break. By incorporating creative expression into familiar community spaces, the bench creates an accessible way for people to engage with the potential mental health benefits of art in their everyday lives.

One limitation of A Place to Pause is that the impact of the bench would depend on community participation and how people choose to interact with it. Some people may not feel comfortable drawing or sharing their thoughts in a public space, while others may use the chalkboard in ways that are not intended. The benches would also require regular maintenance to clean and replace chalk, repair surfaces, and prevent weather damage or vandalism. Additionally, placing multiple interactive benches throughout a community could become costly. Further research would be needed to understand what types of prompts or activities people would actually engage with and whether these interactions meaningfully contribute to their sense of connection or well-being.

Reference

Mayo Clinic Press Editors. (2023, October 16). The intersection of art and health: How art can help promote well-being. Mayo Clinic Press. https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/living-well/the-intersection-of-art-and-health-how-art-can-help-promote-well-being/

Signature Streetscapes. (n.d.). Deluxe park bench, recycled plastic. https://signaturestreetscapes.com/products/deluxe-park-bench-recycled-plastic?variant=41714214699203