Five Things That Make a Park Great
Community parks bring people together, providing a safe, welcoming space designed for everyone to benefit. But what separates a good park from a great park? Most people think of green spaces and playground equipment when thinking of parks, but the park's ability to serve every age group, interest, and ability is a true measure of its greatness.
Outdoor fitness equipment plays a major role in achieving great park status by creating a space that supports wellness, social connections, sustainability, and long-term park use. Here are five key features that make a park truly great, along with ways to incorporate outdoor fitness equipment into each one.
1. Amenities for Every Age
Most parks are designed with children in mind as their primary users. But the most successful parks are built for every generation. Kids use playgrounds and their imagination to explore. Teens seek opportunities to move, climb, and challenge themselves as they transition into young adults. Adults and seniors are often most interested in parks that provide ways to stay active and socialize outdoors.
Outdoor fitness equipment bridges the gap between these generations and can be beneficial for everyone. All-in-one outdoor fitness setups, such as the Apollo Multigym, allow adults to perform every exercise you’d see at a commercial gym, all while keeping an eye on their child. Children are thrilled when their parents are more enthusiastic about going to the park, especially if the parents have a way to keep themselves amused. Seniors can enjoy lower-impact outdoor fitness equipment, such as the Everest Cardio Climber, to support cardiovascular abilities and mobility. Meanwhile, teens can perform bodyweight strength training exercises on the Spartan Multigym as they realize their potential in their growing bodies.
2. Amenities for Every Interest
No two people are the same, and the same can be said for two park visitors. Some people like to relax at the park, others like to play, and many like to exercise. Great parks include a wide range of amenities to suit every interest, such as walking trails, picnic tables, playgrounds, fields, basketball courts, and outdoor fitness areas.
Whether it’s enjoying quick cardio training on the Everest, group strength training on a multigym, or flexibility training on the Flex Multi-Stretch, a well-planned outdoor fitness park caters to every style and keeps everyone happy.
3. Well-Lit Visible Areas
To maximize your return on a park, it should be well within view of the public eye and well-lit, allowing for extended use. Playgrounds, walking trails, and fitness areas should be in open spaces rather than tucked away.
Outdoor fitness equipment works best when placed in high foot traffic parks where people feel safe exercising. When equipment is in the open and visibility is high, it promotes community engagement, inspires participation, and the risk of vandalism decreases substantially.
4. ASTM Compliant, Safe, and ADA Accessible Features
Since a great park should be designed for everyone, it needs to have features that can be safely used by everyone. Parks featuring outdoor fitness sites that comply with ASTM F3101-21a show their commitment to public safety. These outdoor fitness sites are designed for unsupervised public use, and if the equipment has a fall height, it features impact-attenuating safety surfacing. ADA-accessible outdoor fitness equipment, such as the Versa Hi-Lo Pulley System, enables people of all abilities to participate.
5. Durable, Sustainable Design Built to Last
Great parks pass the test of time. Fields, courts, and other aspects of the park require maintenance and landscaping work. Outdoor fitness equipment, on the other hand, should require very minimal to no maintenance at all. Our equipment is built of heavy-duty steel, which outperforms wood or stone structures that may crack or splinter. Backed by a 15-year structural warranty, our rugged, tamperproof, and weatherproof design ensures that equipment remains functional and safe for years to come.
When cities invest in improving their parks, it creates community value. A great park is a place where people can socialize, exercise, play, and a place where people belong.
To contact us today and learn more about how our outdoor fitness equipment can make your park great, click here: https://outdoor-fit.com/contact-us