That's an interesting and practical question! The short answer is: it's highly unlikely you'll find a standard public park bench with armrests that is also intentionally wide enough to lie down on. Here’s why, and what you might find instead.
The primary purpose of armrests on public benches is actually to discourage lying down. Urban designers and park managers often install benches with central armrests as a form of "hostile architecture" or "defensive design." The goal is to prevent individuals from using the bench as a bed for extended sleeping, which aims to maintain accessibility for all visitors and encourage turnover for sitting. Therefore, the armrests deliberately segment the seating into individual spaces.
A typical park bench seat is about 18-20 inches deep. While someone might *squeeze* onto a single section in a fetal position, it is not designed for comfortable, full-length reclining. The armrests themselves make lying across the entire bench length impractical and uncomfortable.
If your goal is to find a place to rest horizontally in a park, look for these alternatives:
* Dedicated Lounge Benches or Chaise Longues: Some modern parks, plazas, or recreational areas install wider, armless lounging benches, sunbeds, or even concrete "reading benches" designed for reclining.
* Picnic Tables: The attached benches are usually armrest-free, though the table itself is in the way.
* Open Lawns: The classic solution! Many people simply use a blanket on the grass for true horizontal relaxation.
* Specialized Furniture: In some settings, you might find wide, solid, armless seating pods or large, flat-topped sculpture-like seating intended for lounging.
So, while a conventional armrest bench won't serve as a good bed, understanding its design intent helps us seek out the right furniture—or the open green space—for truly stretching out and enjoying a rest in the park.