Great question, and you are not alone in asking it. The short answer is that most park benches do not come with a concrete base. What you typically get in the box is the bench itself: seat slats, frame, hardware, and sometimes surface-mount feet or anchor brackets. The concrete base is usually sold separately or poured on site.
Why is that? Concrete bases are heavy, expensive to ship, and often need to meet local ground conditions. Manufacturers leave that part to the installer because a bench on soft ground, asphalt, or a patio may need a completely different foundation.
That said, there are exceptions. Some heavy-duty commercial benches are sold as an in-ground mount kit that includes steel ground spikes or anchor bolts, but a full precast concrete base is rarely included. A few suppliers offer a bench-and-base bundle, especially for memorial benches or park site packages, but it will be clearly marked if that is the case.
If your bench is labeled surface mount, plan on buying or building a concrete pad. A typical installation uses a reinforced concrete slab about four inches thick, slightly larger than the bench footprint. You can also use precast concrete blocks or paver base panels under each leg, but these are separate purchases.
Before you check out, look at the product description for the words “base included,” “anchor kit included,” or “surface mount only.” If it says surface mount, buy a base or pour one. If you are placing the bench on existing concrete, you may only need a quality anchor bolt kit, no separate base required.
For a permanent public park bench, I always recommend a concrete base even if the bench is technically freestanding. It prevents sinking, wobbling, and theft. For a backyard bench on a deck or paver patio, you can often skip the concrete and use rubber pads or bolt-down brackets instead.