Another one of those internet surveys caught my eye this week. “A Mission for Michael” surveyed 3,002 respondents about the everyday places they seek out when they need a little stillness. Then this mental health provider listed Kansans’ top 5 choices as follows:
#1. Wichita Public Library
A quiet corner can sometimes be all it takes to restore a sense of balance. Wichita Public Library provides that kind of environment, where sitting still for a while feels comfortable and natural, even in the middle of a full day.
#2. Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka
When the world outside feels busy, a place like this offers a welcome change of pace. Visitors often settle in for a few quiet minutes alone, enjoying a stretch of calm that allows the mind to slow down and reset.
#3. Civic Center Park, Olathe
Right in the middle of daily routines, Civic Center Park gives people a place to stop and breathe for a moment. It’s somewhere you can sit without feeling rushed, letting your thoughts wander for a while before heading back into the day.
#4. Kaw Point Park, Kansas City
There are moments when stepping away from everything else becomes necessary. Kaw Point Park offers a place where someone can sit quietly and take that break. A peaceful pause here can quickly shift the mood of the day.
#5. Thompson Park, Overland Park
Some places make it easy to slow down without even trying. Thompson Park offers that kind of pause, where someone can sit quietly for a while and let the pace of the day soften. A short stretch of solitude here can feel surprisingly refreshing.
A Mission for Michael decided to delve deeper into how people decompress:
How often do people feel the need to find somewhere quiet in your city to decompress?
• Every day - 34%
• About once a week - 18%
• Several times a week - 10%
• A few times a month - 8%
• Rarely - 30%
The need for immediate quiet is also more common than you might think, the survey sponsors reported. Forty-two percent said they regularly feel so overwhelmed in their city that they need to find somewhere quiet right away to reset, while 58% said they do not.
“And then there is perhaps the most relatable finding of the lot: the car pause. Eighty percent confided that they often sit in their car for a while after arriving somewhere, just to enjoy a few minutes of peace before going inside. That tiny private intermission, parked outside the house or before walking into work, appears to be one of the nation’s most popular forms of unofficial therapy.”
“People often talk about mental health in terms of big interventions, but this research is a reminder that small moments matter too,” says Anand Meta LMFT, executive director, AMFM. “For many Americans, simply finding a place to sit alone for twenty or thirty minutes can be a genuine form of reset. These quiet pauses may look ordinary from the outside, but they can play a meaningful role in helping people feel calmer, more grounded and better able to cope with the demands of daily life.”
This got me thinking about my own Top 5 list, but mostly feeling nostalgic about a Top 5 that may no longer exist. All are in eastern Kansas, where I grew up:
• Centennial Park in Lawrence - The playground equipment was once painted red and white, and we called it Peppermint Park. The park is at 9th and Iowa, and a visit might include a stop at Sandy’s, the drive-in burger joint that later became Bucky’s and is now Biemers BBQ. According to the internet, there was a Peppermint Park Kiddieland behind Rusty’s IGA, featuring a small train and other rides, around 1960. I don’t remember that at all.
• Mont Ida Dam in Anderson County. - I’ve never been to the extinct town of Mont Ida, but somewhere nearby there’s a dam across Cedar Creek that is the perfect hidden spot.
• Martin Park in rural Lawrence. - The off-the-beaten path area is described as 19 acres of untouched parkland, donated by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Martin to the City of Lawrence in 1963.
After moving to Great Bend, it wasn’t hard to find new places to decompress.
• Cheyenne Bottoms and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. - There are nature trails, an observation tower, tours and exhibits.
• The Great Bend Public Library - Where you can read a periodical, buy or borrow a book, or stop to add a piece to a jigsaw puzzle. Every community around us has a library, and they are wonderful places.
• The Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo - This is a place where you can drop in and see a few animals, or take your time and look for the ones that may be partially hidden. There’s a Little Free Library out front, and if you do choose to sit in your car for a few minutes, you can see the bison.
• The Shafer Art Gallery at Barton Community College - Located in the Fine Arts Building, this gallery displays works by Gus Shafer, an artist who grew up near Hoisington. The exhibits change regularly.
• Veterans Memorial Park - This is my favorite local park for taking a walk. Others enjoy fishing, disc golf, or events such as Party in the Park.
That’s enough for a “Top 5,” but I also enjoy the other area parks and museums. I plan to take a stroll around the convent grounds of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, and the related Heartland Farm in rural Pawnee Rock is also worth mentioning.
It isn’t hard to find places to unwind in the Golden Belt. What’s your favorite?
Susan Thacker is the managing editor of the Great Bend Tribune. Contact her at sthacker@gbtribune.com.
