Why Should I Add Fitness Equipment to My Park?

It is understood that exercise goes hand-in-hand with a healthy lifestyle overall. Therefore, one way to get more out of your park investment is to incorporate fitness equipment either designed for adults, kids, or both to use when visiting.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) states that for overall health or to maintain healthy levels, adults should do between 150 and 300 minutes of physical activity (moderate) weekly along with between 75 and 150 minutes of physical activity (aerobic) in the same time span.

Furthermore, The Centers for Disease Control states that children aged six through seventeen years of age need at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Therefore, adding fitness equipment to parks and playgrounds can be a great way to encourage more movement for all ages.

Of course, in order to appeal to the most people, it's important to ensure that there is some equipment that is ADA accessible and that there are options for all age groups and different types of fitness levels.

Types of Fitness Equipment to Incorporate Now

You want to incorporate as many fitness training stations as you can in your park to appeal to the most guests. Equipment can include options like a row station, balance beam, leg lift station, rope climb, vertical climb station, and many more options.

Thankfully, when you add these types of fitness stations into your park, you allow park guests to work on their fitness levels while enjoying the beautiful outdoors, which in and of itself offers many health advantages. These health advantages include physical, mental, and wellness in the community. All of these benefits add up and reduce adverse impacts on our bodies, and have restorative characteristics. So get outdoors and enjoy nature’s gift of wellness.

Benefits of Adding Fitness Equipment to Parks

There are many benefits of adding fitness equipment to a park or playground. The following are just a few of the most notable:

1. Gives Access to Fitness for All People
   
   Going to the gym can get expensive. In addition, not everyone has time to make a special trip to the gym or the ability or transportation to get there. Adding fitness equipment to neighborhood parks and outdoor spaces gives access to fitness equipment like cardio and strength stations to people who would likely not have access to it in any other setting. Overall, this will lead to an improved emphasis on fitness and a healthier community. 
   
   
2. Help Reduce Stress Levels
   
   It has been proven that today’s adults and kids alike are under an immense amount of stress. The American Psychological Association (APA) states that two in every three adults feel stressed for various reasons. The APA further states that teens' stress levels rival that of adults and even is worse in some cases. Thankfully, exercise has been proven to help reduce stress and can even counteract common issues like depression and anxiety.
   
   Harvard Health Publishing explains that exercising reduces the number of stress hormones in the body, such as cortisol and adrenaline, while it also stimulates the production of helpful chemicals like endorphins.
   
   Consequently, simply adding exercise to a daily routine can effectively reduce the stress levels of the participants. What better way to enhance a park than to make it a place to go and enjoy the stress relief benefits of physical activity?
   
   
3. Enhances Your Community
   
   Not only does fitness equipment provide a way for park guests to access fitness equipment and help reduce stress levels in your community, but adding fitness equipment to a park will also help create a more attractive community overall. 
   
   When visitors or those considering moving into the area see the fitness equipment, they will know that your community prioritizes health and wants to provide actionable ways to enhance fitness. This can be a selling point for people moving into the area who might enjoy having nearby access to such equipment. 

Contact us Today

There are many reasons that you should add fitness equipment to your park, some of which are outlined above. Keep in mind that opting for equipment from May Recreation will benefit many age groups and people of varying fitness levels as well as provide options for those that need ADA-accessible equipment. Contact us today to get started.