Things to Consider When Adding Outdoor Gym Equipment to a Park

We all know that we should get physical exercise on a regular basis to improve our overall health. Of course, it isn’t always easy to find time for that exercise, given how many other obligations most of us have on a daily basis. It is the need for timely, convenient exercise that has given rise to the popularity of outdoor gym equipment.

Often added to existing parks, outdoor fitness equipment can help people of all ages to get some quick exercise while spending time outdoors. If you are thinking of adding some of this kind of equipment to a specific park, there are a few things to consider before taking action.

What Kinds of Equipment?

The natural place to start is by thinking about what kinds of equipment you are going to add to the park. While there are no hard-and-fast rules in this area, there are a couple rules of thumb to follow. First, you want the equipment to be useful for as many people as possible. In other words, you should have a selection of pieces that require varying degrees of physical fitness to use. Also, you should attempt to spread the gear out across different kinds of exercise, such as cardio, muscle building, flexibility, etc. The best outdoor gyms are those that allow for a whole body workout in a relatively short period of time.

Make the Most of the Space Available

Before purchasing any equipment, you want to carefully analyze the space you have available so you can make the most of it. Some outdoor fitness areas include a number of pieces clustered together in one place, while others have once piece at a time along a trail. Either of these options can work nicely, depending on the type of park in question. Of course, it makes sense to locate the equipment near to a parking lot to make it as easy to use as possible.

What is Your Budget?

Of course, you can’t talk about any project without talking about budget. You need to know how much money you have available before you can start shopping. The good news is that most outdoor gyms will cost significantly less than a full playground system for the park. It would be a waste of time to get into the planning phase of the project only to realize you don’t have the money available to bring your vision to life. Start with the budget and work from there.

Offer an Explanation

To the uninitiated, outdoor exercise equipment can look odd and out of place in a park. You shouldn’t just assume that people will know how to use the gear once it has been installed – offer instructions or introductory classes in some form of fashion in order to help park visitors get the idea. Once a few people know how to use the equipment, others will likely learn by seeing them in action. Pretty soon, many people will be exercising in the park, and the fitness of the entire neighborhood will be improved as a result!