A Study on Availability of Third Places with respect to Differing Demographics of Bergen County Towns

Third places are community gathering spaces that foster connections between individuals. They can be public or private institutions, for example, libraries, bookstores, cafes, and parks. Third places are correlated with individual and community benefits, but they are not equally available. Through a quantitative correlational research method, this study aimed to answer the question: what is the correlation between access to third places in Bergen County towns and the differing demographics in each town? Ten prospective third places were visited in each town and evaluated with respect to four variables that researchers have used to define third places. Each town was given a third places score (TPS), which graded the availability of third places in a town. Strong positive correlations were found between TPSs and median household income and TPSs and the White population in a town. Additionally, strong negative correlations were found between TPSs and the Black or African American population, Hispanic or Latino population, the population of two or more races, and the American Indian or Alaska Native population in a town. A slightly strong positive correlation was found between TPSs and the Asian population in a town. Third places have many benefits that can improve individual and community wellbeing. This study reaffirms that third places are not equally available to certain groups and brings a new understanding on the availability of third places for groups not previously studied. Because of this, individuals in these groups may struggle with their wellbeing and ability to connect to their communities.