The Valuable Contribution of Third Places

First place is home, second place is work and then there's the third place. Everyone's third place can be different, but examples include churches, cafes, libraries, gyms, parks, bookstores and theaters. A term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, a professor emeritus of sociology at the University of West Florida in Pensacola and author of "The Great Good Place," third places are public places where people go for community engagement with those who share common interests. He viewed third places as the societal glue that binds us together. Oldenburg asserts that third places are necessary in order for neighborhoods to survive and thrive. Many urban planners who seek to stabilize neighborhoods are coming to the realization that incorporating these third places plays a critical role in the strengthening of a community. While today's youth are finding third place connection online in virtual and social media platforms and chat rooms, the true sense of community is found in real-life contact with others, advocates say. Pop culture and television have long reflected the existence and importance of third places to forming a bond with others. Think of popular shows like "Cheers" and "Friends," which both featured third place locations of a pub full of regular customers and a coffeehouse for socializing as a group. While a third place can be a local bar where happy-hour regulars meet to hoist a pint and bemoan their pro sports team's record, it can also be the local fast-food joint or diner, where senior citizens meet for a cup of coffee and a nostalgic chat about the past. Recreation centers where friends meet to play pickleball, or senior centers with their games of bridge are also third places, as are weekly yoga classes and monthly book clubs. If you look around and give it a bit of thought, you'll find no shortage of third place venues. But how important are such gathering spots to our mental health? Especially given the larger number of remote workers and fewer second places? In addition to their importance to neighborhood development, third places foster a sense of belonging and decrease feelings of isolation and loneliness. They are where friendships can be formed and like-minded people can find the comfort of a similar perspective, if only for a brief period of time. Third place engagement can be either active, as in the pickleball example, or more of a passive type, like one might find sitting in a busy cafe. These type of crossing-path encounters and environments are called bridging ties. Bridging ties are connections made across a variety of identities, socioeconomic statuses and knowledge. Studies show that a diversity of human encounters can lead to better health and well-being. Third places are locations where one can build trust and relationships with new people. The woman you see regularly at the library starts to exchange a smile with you and eventually you begin to greet each other and talk about the books you've been reading. Similarly, third place employees can bring valuable connection, such as the friendly barista who begins to remember your order and name. Hair stylists and bartenders have long been depicted as providing emotional support, or a shoulder to cry on to their regular patrons. These types of acquaintance connections may not lead to intimate friendships, per se, but they can still foster feelings of belonging, according to studies. They bring good feelings to our day. The decrease of third places is visible and due to a variety of reasons, experts observe. Residential and commercial real estate has separated, meaning that in some places people live farther away from these types of locations. Many also choose to shop online, rather at local businesses and church memberships are down. Oftentimes, restaurants want to increase turnover of tables and discourage lingering without purchase. Many parks have closed their bathrooms meaning visit times are limited. These small changes lead to big community shifts. There are fewer places to gather and sadly, for many, there are fewer places to feel welcome and safe. While third places are vital to building community, they are also vital to happiness. Think about your own life: Do you have a third place? How would your life change if it disappeared?