COUNCILS
A 12-user outdoor gym package installed by Corwen Council to provide a free exercise facility for the whole community to enjoy.
Corwen Town Council is a council based in North Wales. The Council was interested in exploring the possibility of an outdoor gym at War Memorial Park in Corwen.
The team recognised that an outdoor gym is a great facility for a community and brings with it a number of benefits including providing somewhere for users to take regular exercise, a free service with no expensive membership fees, a convenient location, year-round availability and of course being outside in the fresh air and natural daylight has endless benefits too!
The biggest challenge that the council was facing was how to fund their outdoor gym project. At Fresh Air Fitness, each year, we create our free Funding Guide which customers can tap into for multiple ways of raising funds for outdoor gym projects. Using our guide and experience of our team we were able to suggest that the council looked at National Lottery for Wales Awards for All Scheme.
The application to the Awards for All Scheme was successful and the council installed our very popular Parks Bumper Package, with an accessible arm and pedal bike for wheelchair users within the community.
The package includes a range of equipment specifically designed to offer access to exercise to everyone from beginners through to advanced users.
We also provided a free site facilities sign, required for compliance with the EN16630 outdoor gym standard, a factor often overlooked by other suppliers.
From initial meeting with the council leaders to the day of installation, the whole project took only three months from start to finish, meaning the community was able to begin enjoying the new facility without delay.
7 Piece Outdoor Gym for 12 Users includes:
Accessible Arm and Pedal Bike – a fantastic, low impact piece of equipment that enables the user to position their chair in front of the frame and use the equipment whilst seated. Simple yet effective low impact pedals develop cardiovascular fitness, strength and tone in the arms and legs while improving coordination, cardiovascular strength and core stability.
Combi: Pull Down and Chest Press - This strength building piece of equipment has been created to offer the benefits of a chest press and a pull-down challenger all on one frame.
Air Skier – One of our most popular pieces of equipment, the Air Skier, is a unique piece of exercise equipment which activates the waist, hips and thigh muscles. The secondary muscles which are activated are in the arms, which are used for grip and balance.
Rider – Similar to a rower, but positioned upright, users push with their legs while pulling with their arms against resistance, moving their entire body up and down. Setting their own pace, moving as quickly or slowly as they choose, building cardio strength, stamina and muscular strength.
Double Air Walker – The Double Air Walker is an excellent alternative to jogging or power walking. As well as giving an excellent cardiovascular workout, it can be enjoyed whilst chatting alongside a friend and it is also great for balance, coordination and flexibility.
Seated Leg Press – A great alternative to traditional squats and the seated position means less strain on the knees. Once seated, users simply push away from the frame and the resistance is provided by a user’s body weight, which is a low impact route to muscle strengthening and development.
Leg Lift Station - Used for strength building, our Leg Lift Station has been designed for users to perform knee raises and leg lifts. Beginners can start with knee raises, building strength and tone in the core and upper thighs, while more advanced users can perform leg lifts, a much tougher exercise, working the same muscles. The solid frame has handles positioned at the back of the frame, for neutral and lateral grip pull-ups.
Thinking of researching the possibility of an outdoor gym in your park or local green space, but not sure if your council can find the budget? Reach out to one of our team who have experience in the funding process and would be delighted to provide you with a copy of our free Funding Guide. Many of our installations have been successful due to funding support, including many outdoor gym projects which have been 100% funded!
Fresh Air Fitness is a leading provider of outdoor gym equipment. We have worked with hundreds of councils across the UK, installing outdoor gyms from our exciting adult range – which includes pieces designed specifically for wheelchair users and people with mobility challenges.
We know that to be successful in the long term, exercise needs to be enjoyable, and research shows the installing a gym in your local community green space can reduce feelings of isolation, improve social interaction, reduce anti-social behaviour, and address the cost-of-living crisis by offering a free way to exercise.
This was a fantastic project to work on which the whole team enjoyed. I commend the Fresh Air Fitness team on providing such an efficient end-to-end service, especially with regard to project execution: from site inspection, to product selection, equipment manufacture all the way to installation day and making everything happen within three months. A turnaround time to be proud of!
TOM WILLOCK, MD, FRESH AIR FITNESS.
