Where are your third places?

Every Federal Way-er has at least one and likely more. While most of us probably don’t give a second thought to our third places, they are a vital element for building a strong, vibrant Federal Way community.

The concept of third places was described by Ray Oldenburg in his 1989 book, “The Great Good Place,” in which he argues that these special gathering spaces are essential for civil society, democracy and establishing a community self-identity.

Oldenburg defined these as places in the community that are outside the “first place” of home and the “second place” of work, where people may spend a healthy part of their time.

They are quite often places of commerce, such as a coffee shop or a bookstore, but need to be much more than a place to buy a latte or a novel in order to be a true third place. They have features that attract people to visit and stay for a while, creating opportunities for social interaction.

When you walk into one of your third places, you know you’re most likely going to see old friends — and quite possibly make new ones.

These social transactions are one of the principal benefits that third places give to communities. The social networks that are created often transcend neighborhood relationships, and political or religious beliefs.

They create a richer, stronger web of acquaintances and friendships as well as a collection of interests that help build community. These connections can improve civic engagement and give rise to collective action, whether it be political, or a volunteer project like improving a local ballfield.

As an example, a third place may be where an idea for a new park begins to catch fire.

At the very least, the enriched social web of the community that arises from third places makes a city like Federal Way feel much more like a place you live, rather than a just place where you keep your stuff in between moves.

That’s the sense of place that urban planners are fond of talking about. It’s what keeps people rooted in a community and, in turn, gives communities stability.

Of course, this is all important not only for how Federal Way-ers see their home, but also in how nonresidents view us.

A community of strip malls and big box stores arguably won’t have much personality. As previously discussed in this column, Federal Way is often thought of by outsiders (and some insiders) in this way.

Suburban cities, in general, are often criticized for suffering a civic personality disorder caused in part by an anemic third place sector.

Now, not everyone’s idea of third places is the same. My friend Skip Priest loves Marie Callender’s and holds a lot of meetings there. He knows everyone who works there (as well as most of the people who are eating there at any given time).

For Skip, it’s a social epicenter of Federal Way. To others, it’s just a restaurant.

I prefer to take lunch and breakfast meetings at Marlene’s Market or Poverty Bay Coffee. I love the atmosphere and food, and I’m always running into people I know there.

Age, too, can define third places. Neither Skip nor I will be hanging out and shredding half pipes at the Steel Lake skate park.

There’s a sizable group of teenagers and 20-something skaters, however, for whom that’s one of the main hangouts in the F-Dub. Kids need third places, too.

Parks are an important element of third places as well. Federal Way’s parks are well used by its citizens, whether for sports at Celebration Park, swimming at Steel Lake, a walk on the Redondo boardwalk or nature enjoyment at the West Hylebos Wetlands or Dumas Bay Nature Preserve.

Third places as essential building blocks to true community. Federal Way’s downtown development effort is all about economic development that will presumably foster the creation of more third places.

Building the future of Federal Way will require attention to those things that encourage places like Marlene’s Market and Poverty Bay Coffee, where people go to hang out and be an F-Dubber. These are the places that make us more than just another suburban city on the I-5 corridor.

So, I’ve named a few of my third places. Where are yours, Federal Way?

Chris Carrel is a lifelong Federal Way resident and executive director of the Friends of the Hylebos, a nonprofit conservation organization working to preserve and restore Hylebos Creek and the West Hylebos Wetlands. Contact: chinook@hylebos.org or (253) 874-2005.