New outdoor gym available to use for free in Borehamwood

New fitness equipment has now been installed at Ripon Park in Borehamwood. The outdoor equipment is entirely free to use and will allow residents to get fit and test out gym equipment without having to sign up for a membership.

The outdoor gym has benefitted from a £26,000 investment to include new, state-of-the-art equipment. The installation process took place following consultations with park visitors and local residents to find out what would be the most popular options.

The selected equipment should be suitable for all ages and abilities. Information has been posted near the equipment to enable users to better understand how the equipment functions and to ensure that people get the most out of it.

Matthew Parsonage, head of neighbourhood investment at Affinity Sutton, said: "With health [being] one of Hertsmere's top community priorities and our commitment to helping our residents find affordable ways to stay healthy and exercise, the green gym really is a win-win. Not everyone wants to commit to a gym membership so our new green gym is a great alternative which will offer residents the chance to stay healthy and get fit for free. We urge everyone to come down, have a go and have fun, plus tell us their ideas for making this an ever better place to live."

The outdoor gym has seven different machines, all of which do not use electricity to function. The gym includes a recumbent bike, a hand bike, a treadmill, pull up and assisted pull-up apparatus, a triple step up unit, an abdominal bench and a combination chest press and rowing machine.

Councillor Brenda Batten, portfolio holder for Leisure, Culture and Health, said: "The new outdoor gym is a fantastic addition to the park and something that we hope will encourage local residents to be fit and active ... and the best part is that it's completely free to use."   

Posted by Martyn Glynn

Published 4th June, 2013

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