Great question! The short answer is to leave at least 6 feet (2 meters) of clear space between the nearest edges of park benches along a walking path. That is the standard social-distancing baseline for reducing close contact. However, because people tend to sit, talk, eat, or rest on benches for longer periods, I recommend aiming for 8 to 12 feet between benches if your site allows it. The extra distance gives people more breathing room and prevents the path from feeling crowded when someone pauses beside a bench.
If the walking path is busy or benches face each other across the path, increase the gap to 12 to 15 feet or stagger the benches on alternating sides. Staggering works especially well because visitors are not sitting directly in each other’s breathing zone. Avoid placing benches immediately next to drinking fountains, trash cans, or fitness stations where people tend to gather.
A practical park standard is to space benches about 10 feet center-to-center, which usually creates 8 to 10 feet of open space between bench edges depending on the bench size. Also keep the walking lane clear: the path itself should remain wide enough for people to pass without stepping into the seating area. For social distancing alone, 6 feet is the minimum, but 10 to 12 feet is the safer, more visitor-friendly target. Always check current local health guidance, because rules can vary by region.