By HEIDI GASSER
BGSU Journalism Student
For the average Bowling Green resident, a typical day may be divided between work, the gym, the grocery store, household chores and running errands.
The American Time Use Survey (summarized by Pew Research) found that average Americans spend eight hours of their days at work, two hours on chores, between two and seven hours providing childcare and eight to nine hours asleep.
Residents spend most of their time in their “first place,” the home, or their “second place,” the workplace, leaving little time for their “third place,” a life outside of home or work.
In the 1980s, scholar and writer Ray Oldenburg coined the term “third place,” which he defined as a space that “hosts regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work.” Third places include businesses like coffee shops, bowling alleys, golf courses or gyms, as well as public spaces like libraries, museums, town halls or parks.
BG is home to many vital “third places,” offering residents important community hubs outside of work and home.
Dr. Carolyn Tompsett, professor, researcher and chair of BGSU’s psychology department, refers to third places as community spaces where “you will run into people you would otherwise have not,” something that is “very important to psychologists.”
“When I am tired of working at my desk, I could go to a coffee shop. What happens when that becomes me going to my bed to do work, and getting cozy there instead?” Tompsett said. “I compare [going out] to working out. You work out because you should; you may not love it at first, but it will get easier. It’s not as easy as sitting on the couch, but the benefits will add up. Pick something that’s the low hanging fruit.”
Tompsett said that since 2020, communities are still healing from pandemic era isolation to reconnect with third places.
“We started hearing about third places disappearing during the pandemic. Businesses went under, and foot traffic decreased as people asked themselves if going out would be worth a risk to their health. It took awhile to come back,” Tompsett said.
Kiarra Reynolds, artist and barista manager, said she views Grounds for Thought as “inseparable” from a thriving Bowling Green community. Since it was founded in 1989 by Sandy Wicks, the shop has emphasized inclusion and access for everyone who walks through its doors.
“I usually see several people playing our board games, one third of the dining room studying or working, and the rest socializing, going in and out, and going on dates. We want people to feel comfortable and have access to our resources. You could read any of our books in the store.
The health department put in a free water fountain, and we have free bathrooms and free internet,” Reynolds said. “I am not familiar with [other] businesses that allow you to sit for free for a long time. We have a cozy environment here.”
Of the many free events Grounds offers, Reynolds said concerts remain the most popular, along with the science cafe, an event where local scholars can share their latest research.
According to Reynolds, through the coffee shop’s day-to-day service and community events, staff are able to meet people they may not have met otherwise. Reynolds said she has been personally involved in making real community-building magic happen.
“I love the variety of people that I meet; I get to meet blue-collar workers where they would help us with whatever we need. I‘ve met doctors and nurses, city council people, all at different points in their day,” Reynolds said. “One time, I was asked ahead of time to write ‘Would you marry me?’ on one of our coffee bags as a surprise for a proposal. I think they were inspired by having their first date at Grounds. Being able to participate in that was super cool.”
Just down Main Street, Michael Penrod and the Wood County District Public Library have “worked extensively to make the library the third place for the community.”
“We serve everybody. We have university students, we have homeschool students, public students, young families. We are a downtown hub,” Penrod said.
The library offers dozens of resources, not only for reading and research, but employment, child development and community building. Staff operate with a “meet them where they are at in life” mentality to assist all patrons empathetically, Penrod said.
“We have families coming in for storytime to build on early literacy; we have a lot of people using us for workforce development. The library serves people in many ways. We focus on being a connecting point wherever they are in their life. Sometimes it’s finding a job, sometimes it’s a warm refuge on a cold winter’s day, and sometimes it’s reading your favorite fiction novel,” Penrod said.
The Wood County Committee on Aging offers opportunities for older adults to gather and participate in special activities at its eight locations from Pemberville to Perrysburg.
“You can grab a coffee, hit an exercise class, then go to an art class or a lifelong learning course,” said Danielle Brogley, WCCOA’s director of programs. “[Attendees] may stumble upon us for one aspect of what we do, and then they discover other classes and resources we offer.”
The nonprofit relies on state and federal funding, as well as local tax levies and community donations, to provide free and fee-based services. Brogley said that affordability improves access for many folks.
“Aging is a natural process that affects us all. Our goal is to enhance the lives of those in their latter years; that’s our target audience. We strive to keep our programming tailored toward the needs that people see as they age,” Brogley said. ”For so many people, there are many variable factors in aging … emotional and physical. We strive to create a community that supports those transitions and help people enjoy those latter years with the tips and tools we provide.”
For those struggling to get motivated to leave the house, Tompsett said that individuals can be inspired by knowing that they make their communities special. Tompsett wants BG residents to find fun occasions to “get those sparkly pants on and go.”
“We all want to live in a vibrant community, but we are the vibrant community. It is you going out that creates a sense of community. These [third spaces] exist because people go there,” Tompsett said.
Get inspired and get connected with Grounds For Thought, Wood County Library, and WCCOA at the links below.
