Mayor Opens the New Outdoor Gym in Victoria Park

The Mayor of Rossendale, Cllr Granville Morris, officially opened the new outdoor gym which has been installed in Victoria Park in Haslingden.

The gym features 6 pieces of state of the art equipment, designed to exercise different parts of the body to provide a full workout.   It is located at the end of the path by the main entrance, overlooking the lower part of the park with fantastic  views of the surrounding hills.

The gym includes a board with full instructions and each piece of equipment includes a QR code enabling smart phone users to view a video showing how to use each item.  The gym is free and accessible to everyone and one piece of equipment is suitable for wheelchair users.      

The idea for an outdoor gym came from the Friends of Victoria Park Group, who provided some of the funding.  The main funding has come from a grant from the Rossendale Up and Active project, with Rossendale Council providing the remaining funds.

 

Research suggests that providing outdoor gym equipment helps to increase physical activity and reduces some of the barriers to taking part in exercise.  Providing free and accessible equipment in a pleasant, natural environment helps to motivate people to exercise.

Cllr Christine Lamb, Portfolio Holder for Operational Services for said;

“Our parks are a wonderful facility for people in Rossendale and the outdoor gym in Victoria Park enables people to exercise for free in lovely surroundings.”

Harry Holden, from Friends of Victoria Park and secretary of Victoria Park Bowling Club commented

“The outdoor gym is a great addition to the park and is proving to be a very popular feature.”

Victoria Park is on Helmshore Road in Haslingden and also features a children’s play area, bowling green, multi use games area, band stand and an Edwardian clock tower.

There are also outdoor gyms in two other parks in Rossendale  – Stubbylee Park in Bacup and Lumb Millennium Green near Waterfoot.