Today’s parks need to serve all ages and interests by supplying more than just a playground for kids. Parks provide a place where generations of families and friends can gather to get some fresh air and sunshine, enjoy quality time together, and achieve a good work-out. So, how do you create a space that ensures the little ones, the teens, and the adults and elders are engaged, active, and catered to? One of the best and easiest ways to encourage multi-generational park use is through outdoor fitness equipment. By pairing gym structures and obstacle courses with traditional and inclusive playgrounds, we can create a space that caters to all ages and deliver a family fitness solution. Read on to learn how we can work together to build a space for everyone to enjoy and create the perfect place for both play and fitness.
The "Why": The Rise of Multi-Generational Play
Multi-generational play is booming, and for a good reason. Families seek outdoor spaces that offer something for everyone and allow for opportunities for the whole family to get involved in enjoying the park together. Successful multi-generational parks often feature benefits for parents, caregivers, grandchildren, and older teens. We’d argue some of the best equipment to include is outdoor fitness equipment, for several reasons. Parents with tight schedules can fit in a workout without having to worry about arranging for outside childcare. Fitness equipment can also appeal to older kids, allowing for engaging opportunity for teens and young adults. Overall, including fitness equipment promotes a healthy lifestyle for members of your community, which benefits whole generations of families. As adults and elders in kids’ lives take the time to be active, it not only will keep whole families healthy, but set a positive example for children to carry with them as they grow up.
The "How": Designing a Multi-Generational Space
Now that we’ve covered why establishing multi-generational play spaces is so important, you may be wondering where to start when putting pen to paper and designing one. As park and play experts, this is where we come in! Let’s go over three key considerations.
- Location:
- Location is key – fitness equipment should be placed close enough to the playground that caregivers can keep an eye on kids at play, but not so close as to interfere with the flow of the playground or outdoor fitness space.
- Both playground equipment and fitness equipment have use zones, so they do need a particular amount of open, unobstructed space.
- For playgrounds, entrance to and egress from equipment requires a certain amount of space.
- For fitness equipment, there is both a training envelope and a clearance space within the use zone – the former being the maximum space that the applicable exercise can take place within, the latter designed for flow of traffic in and around the equipment.
- Inclusion:
- Outdoor fitness equipment is inherently inclusive in that it creates gyms that are open and available to the public, removing barriers to community health and wellness. Our equipment is designed to incorporate all the elements of a well-rounded workout with stations for users of all fitness levels.
- Fitness equipment can be designed to be accessible to a wide range of people, of all different ages and abilities. Our line is outfitted with options for inclusive equipment that allows for ease-of-access for people using mobility devices, and therapeutic fitness equipment specifically designed to provide extra support.
- Aesthetic & Flow:
- It’s important to prioritize a cohesive design, where the flow of both the play and athletic areas are intentional, feel comfortable, and allow park-goers to move from station-to-station naturally. The outdoor fitness area should feel like a natural extension of the playground, not a separate space.
- There are several different ways to lay out fitness equipment. These design options can be referred to as park typologies. For example, you can create a fitness cluster by placing all the equipment side-by-side in a half-moon shape or a circle, encircling the playground. Or you can create a fitness trail, a longer pathway with a suggested workout routine indicated by the equipment chain.
From Play to Purpose: Key Benefits for Communities
A thoughtfully designed outdoor fitness space can transform a community. There are so many key benefits to providing barrier-free access to exercise, and here are some of the top three we always notice:
- Encouraging Physical Activity:
- Our big ‘why’ in designing outdoor fitness spaces is to create accessible opportunities for exercise. Outdoor fitness installations remove barriers to working out. Unlike traditional gyms, no membership is required.
- Fitness equipment successfully promotes physical activity by being so easily accessed, and helps many adults combat sedentary lifestyles. With the rise in sedentary work, these installations are crucial to public health.
- Fostering Social Connection:
- With the increase in use of screens like smart phones and gaming devices, encouraging in-person social connections is more important than ever. Parks that provide outdoor fitness equipment create a safe and fun environment for neighbors to meet and connect with one another.
- We’ve seen outdoor fitness equipment create so much more than an open-air gym. These locations become hubs for social interaction, allowing community adults and elders to connect while working out and watching their children play.
- Maximizing Community Investment:
- Not only do outdoor fitness installations improve the lives of the members of the community but return the investment by increasing the value and usability of parks. Fitness equipment is a smart, cost-effective choice. The cost of the initial investment is low compared to the value of the results.
- The health and wellness benefits that community members gain will create a ripple effect. They will not only directly impact families by creating long-term health benefits but staple the community as one that prioritizes wellness.
Outdoor fitness equipment and playgrounds aren't just separate entities; they create a complete solution for modern park needs by catering to every member of the family. These installations are a smart investment, transforming a simple park into a true community hub. They create spaces where people can foster connections, improve their health, and lead by example.
At MRC Recreation, we offer comprehensive solutions for both play and fitness, ensuring your project is a success from start to finish. We'd love to help you build a vibrant, multi-generational space for your community. Explore outdoor fitness equipment offerings, view case studies, or connect with our team for a consultation.