|
|
 |
| |
Camden’s exercise chief Councillor Flick Rea with Lib Dems Ed Fordham, John Bryant, Paul Braithwaite and Janet Grauberg |
Worth the weight? Camden gets its first public outdoor gyms
FOR some people the idea of exercising in public is terrifying.
For everyone else, the news that Camden Council has just launched eight open-air free gyms in parks across the borough is a reason in itself to jump around.
On Friday, the Town Hall’s parks and exercise chief Councillor Flick Rea helped Camden’s Primary Care Trust chairman John Carrier break in the newly unveiled equipment at Kilburn’s Grange Park as they experimented with some of the more challenging machinery.
The gyms are located at Polygon Road in Somers Town, Swiss Cottage open space, Kilburn Grange park, Argyle Square gardens in Camden Town, Cumberland Market in Regent’s Park, Maygrove Peace Park in Kilburn, Cantelowes Park in Camden Town, Lismore Circus in Gospel Oak and outside Swiss Cottage sports centre.
Personal trainers will be on hand at different times at various locations throughout July, as part of Camden PCT’s contribution.
The PCT spent around £500,000 on the project, while the council made the sites available.
Launching the new gyms, Mr Carrier said: “We have great expectations and great hopes and we hope it’ll be used by everyone and not just fit young men. I do hope it’s looked on with civic pride and isn’t vandalised.”
Cllr Rea added: “It’s wonderful, it’s open-air, open to everyone and doesn’t cost you a penny.
“I hope it makes you healthier and wealthier because you don’t have to spend money on smart gyms.”
Outdoor gyms have been a popular part of the landscape in other countries for years and are a particularly familiar sight in California and other areas of the American coast. Neighbouring boroughs of London adopted the idea some years ago.
The location of Camden’s outdoor gyms were chosen to match areas where statistics show there are health concerns, such as obesity and heart problems. |
 |
|
|
|
YOUR COMMENTS:
Dear Sir, good on the council for making an effort but I'm afraid this is a sad waste of money.As soon as I read about this equipment being installed in my local park I dashed round to give it a go.What a disapointment! These machines are little more than children's swings and roundabouts. Nobody serious about getting fit will benefit from these play sites. There is no way of increasing the resistance or adding weights to the "machines" and they are far too easy to use. Hardly any effort is required. Anyone who is familiar with working out knows that week by week as one gets fitter and stronger, the weights have to be increased and the exercise has to be made a little harder. This cannot be done on this equipment. It is a total waste of money. Whoever installed this gear knows nothing about fitness and getting fit. What a shame.Your article mentions other countries where this has been tried and I immediately imagined something like Venice Beach in California where everybody uses the outdoor facilities and running tracks which are properly designed and very popular. I'm afraid Camden Council have not thought this one out and it will only be a matter of weeks before the equipment breaks down or is vandalised or stolen for scrap. It won't get anyone fit. What a disapointment.
Des Brittain |
| |
|
|
|
