Forum Topic

Outdoor gym?

One of the things I've enjoyed most about our daily perambulation around Wandsworth Park is seeing people put it to good, constructive use.I know we can have problems with larger, braying groups who can't be bothered to pick up their empties and other rubbish; cyclists who consider the whole park to be their fiefdom, or who treat the riverside path as a racetrack; and self-absorbed runners who see no need to go around walkers when they can just brush past.On the whole, though, I think people have been pretty responsible, and I'm particularly impressed with those individuals of all shapes and sizes who have taken to using the park to improve their health and fitness.Exercising outdoors has physical and emotional benefits beyond those to be gained from staring at the walls of a gym, not to mention the bonus of keeping your hard-earned spondulicks out of the clutches of corporate tax-dodgers.I've long thought we could do worse than follow the Swedish model of outdoor gyms in public spaces and wonder if there would be any support for a post-lockdown conversion of a small area of the park - the two segments inside the paths that make up the corner down by the Deodar Road entrance, for example? Perhaps the finger of riverside that was the subject of the attempted landgrab could also be repurposed? Apart from being a public benefit in and of itself, a dedicated exercise area (making good use of reclaimed or sustainable materials) might discourage people from stepping on the benches - always irritating to see when I'm looking for one on which to plunk myself in order to indulge in a little Duolingo while wondering if someone has trodden dog mess all over it - or from using and damaging trees for their pullups or band exercises.You can see some examples of outdoor exercise areas here:https://www.google.com/search?q=stockholm+outdoor+exercise+areas&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiB9IWK7dbpAhUWwoUKHfb0CuIQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=stockholm+outdoor+exercise+areas&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA1DZpY4FWLG_jgVg8MSOBWgAcAB4AIABhQSIAagRkgEJNy4yLjQuNS0xmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWc&sclient=img&ei=4NXPXoGEIZaElwT26auQDg&bih=937&biw=1920&rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB892GB892

Stewart Hunter ● 2142d6 Comments

There are a few stations, quite well spaced out around that bit of green.  I wonder when Kimber skate park will reopen.  Or if we could get some open-access skate facility nearer.  There was talk of a skate thing in Vine Road park.  Bishops Park in Fulham has a small bowl and ramp.

Alan Sherman ● 2141d

If you go up the Upper Richmond Road and Hertford Avenue, Palewell Park is at the top with a putting green and tennis courts. With a cafe when open and a long green.

Barbara Stevens ● 2141d

There used to be one , think its still there,in King George's Park wandsworth where the Nuffield gym is Burr Road/ Kimber Road .

Andy Pike ● 2142d

You can find outdoor gyms around London.  The best ones have instructions for the equipment there as well.  There used to be QR codes on these that you could read using your mobile but I think there may have been a security problem with them?

Philippa Bond ● 2142d

Good idea.Palewell Park (Bear Roehampton Gate) has a small but pretty good outdoor gym that could be copied.  Also in the green in the Ashburton estate there are some good pull up bars and sit up benches made from wood.  Pretty sure Clapham Common has some equipment too (from pictures are the beginning of lockdown!). So there is precedent in the area.Write to your councillor and ask for it!  Also isn't there a 'Friends of Wandsworth park' group?

Alan Sherman ● 2142d

Hello Stewart, I think that sounds like a brilliant idea!!  Exercising in the fresh air is definitely much better than gyms.  

Ivonne Holliday ● 2142d