Oliver Parks and Recreation hope to have the outdoor fitness park installed by September. The chosen location is Lion’s Park.
Come September, Lion’s Park will be the new home of an outdoor fitness area for older adults, and the hope is it will change the way people use the park.
Several pieces of exercise equipment will be installed in late August between the visitor centre and the skatepark.
Parks and Recreation manager Carol Sheridan told Town council on June 8 that a $20,000 grant is making this possible. She noted the project will be called the Kiwanis Age-Friendly Fitness Park since the club donated $15,000 towards the initiative.
Sheridan said they have reached their goal of funding the park without spending taxpayers’ money.
The park will include a 300-metre accessible pathway loop (circuit) at the south end of Lion’s Park connecting to the hike and bike trail and the visitor centre parking lot. Six concrete pads will be poured and various pieces of equipment will be installed on them, including a tai chi wheel, air strider/walker and a multi-bar.
Each piece will have instructions for use, and 50 free orientation sessions with a qualified trainer will be offered in September and October.
The pathway linking the equipment will be kept clear of snow during the winter months.
“I’m really excited about it,” Sheridan said, noting they want to change the way Lion’s Park is used.
Instead of some people doing what they are not supposed to do in the park, this initiative will make vibrant use of the space, she pointed out.
Mayor Ron Hovanes agreed, adding that when the “community” takes over, it will become more of a community park.
Sheridan mentioned the potential for vandalism, but said there are no small pieces that can be removed from the equipment, which will be bolted securely to the concrete pads.
Sheridan said Parks and Recreation will assume the responsibility of repairing any damage due to vandalism.
Speaking of vandalism, the Lion’s Club recently discovered that someone damaged a couple of cement tables in the park by ripping two seats off. Who would go to such trouble vandalizing a cement table?
This is the question being asked by club president Joanne Bray.
“We couldn’t figure it out. You break your arse trying to help the community . . . it’s really discouraging.”
But Bray said the club totally supports the new fitness park initiative. She too hopes it will change the dynamics of the area – from undesirable to desirable.
Sheridan said the initiative fits in with their plan to make the park more family-friendly; a place to go for fitness, fun and leisure.
She noted that increased involvement from bylaw enforcement and the RCMP is also part of the overall plan.
