Yes—there are definitely park benches designed that way. I’ve seen this question come up often from park maintenance crews and facility managers who are tired of dragging benches around just to sweep underneath them. Many commercial outdoor benches now have an open space below the seat, and it is there specifically to make cleaning easier.
You will usually see this described as an “open gap under the seat,” “raised seat,” or “maintenance clearance.” Instead of the seat sitting directly on a solid base or having a skirt that drops toward the ground, the seat is supported by legs, pedestals, or brackets that leave several inches of clear space underneath. That gap lets a broom, rake, leaf blower, or pressure washer reach under the bench without moving it.
The most common easy-sweep design is a slatted bench. Wood, metal, or recycled-plastic slats have spaces between them, so crumbs, rainwater, leaves, and small litter fall straight through. As long as the frame below is open—not boxed in with a lower shelf or solid panel—the area under the seat stays accessible. Some benches are designed as open-frame or side-support styles, and these tend to work best.
How much clearance should you look for? A few inches is usually enough for a standard broom head or blower nozzle. That said, many parks departments prefer at least 6 to 8 inches under the seat. Some pedestal-mounted or wall-mounted benches have even more clearance, which makes routine sweeping very fast. When you are comparing benches, check the manufacturer’s drawings for “clearance under seat” or the distance from the bottom of the seat to the ground. A comfortable seat height is usually around 17 to 18 inches, but the usable gap depends on whether there is a lower brace or panel in the way.
Keep in mind that a slatted top is not the same thing as a sweeping gap. A bench can have slats for drainage but still have a solid lower base that traps trash. If easy sweeping is your priority, look for an open-frame or raised-seat bench without a lower shelf. In catalogs, these are often labeled “maintenance-friendly,” “litter-resistant,” or “easy-clean.”
There are also styles that hide the gap more gracefully. Some curved or backless benches use a central spine or side supports, so the gap is visible from the side but not obvious from the front. That can be a nice option if you want a clean look in a plaza, campus, or park setting.
The short answer is yes: you can absolutely find park benches with a gap under the seat to make sweeping easier. Look for open-frame or raised-seat designs, confirm the clearance before buying, and your maintenance crew will thank you.