People sitting on benches in a public area.
There are people sitting on benches outdoors talking to each other.
The benches may not be outdoors.  The people may not be talking to each other.
Just because people sitting on benches in a public area does not mean they are outdoors talking to each other.
Public areas do not necessarily have to be outdoors and people sitting in a public area do not necessarily have to be talking to each other.