Funding an Outdoor Gym for the Community
Over the last decade, outdoor gyms have become popular when developing new parks and recreational facilities or updating existing ones. These outdoor gyms allow free access to exercise, providing an avenue for citizens to stay fit, breathe fresh air, and socialize, ultimately creating an inviting and attractive community. While this is appealing, there are some barriers that come with the addition and installation of an outdoor gym, the number one being funding. Outdoor fitness equipment that provides real exercise value will cost more than mere pocket change, and there is a good reason for that when considering the investment required for any high-quality exercise equipment. Taking the proper time to choose the right equipment will pay dividends. In this blog, we’ll look at different ways to fund an outdoor gym, including site sponsorship, applying for grants, purchasing cooperatives, and fundraising.
Site Sponsorship: A Win-Win Solution
Offering local businesses site sponsorship of an outdoor gym is a fantastic way to raise quick funding. Whether they want to advertise with a logo, company name, phone number, or slogan, there are numerous options to showcase their brand. Most outdoor fitness equipment will have empty spots where stickers or steel nameplates are easy to place, and another option is having their name on a site sign or naming the site after their company. Site sponsorship of an outdoor fitness gym not only raises brand awareness but also raises brand value as it illustrates that the company cares about the health and well-being of the public.
Unlock Public Funding Opportunities
No matter what state or province you live in, there are most likely parks and outdoor recreation grants available that municipalities can apply for to help fund their outdoor gym project. These aren’t too hard to find, and many will give out millions of dollars annually to help support local park projects. Listed below are some specific examples of these grants and brief descriptions from their websites, which are linked.
Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant, Illinois: The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program is a state-financed grant program that provides funding assistance to local government agencies for the acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and open space.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Recreation Grants, Texas: Recreation Grants has been assisting hundreds of communities across Texas with their outdoor recreation needs since 1965 through our grant assistance and outreach programs. From the most significant metropolis to the smallest rural community, these programs help build new parks, conserve natural resources, provide access to water bodies, develop educational programs for youth, and much more.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Spark Grants, Michigan: Administered by the DNR, Michigan Spark Grants will support projects that provide safe, accessible public recreation facilities and spaces to improve people’s health, introduce new recreation experiences, build on existing park infrastructure and make it easier for people to enjoy both indoor and outdoor recreation.
Purchasing Cooperatives: Streamline the Acquisition Process
Certain governments have legal purchasing requirements that, in some scenarios, can make acquiring equipment a long process. However, purchasing cooperatives such as Sourcewell and BuyBoard help solve this problem. These companies help local governments save time and taxpayer money by streamlining the purchasing process and ensuring all legal requirements are fulfilled. In the summer of 2023, Milwaukee Public Schools installed 61 Spartan Multigyms across their school district with the help of Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing and funding from a Federal Grant. They have been thrilled with the resulting enhancement of physical fitness opportunities for students and the community.
Fundraising: Engaging the Community for Support
The last way of raising funds for an outdoor gym we will examine in this blog is as simple as it gets: fundraising. Hosting events, donations, bottle drives, and more. There are countless ways to fundraise in the community, and they will show support if the presentation and reasoning are adequately introduced. Fundraising can seem like an enormous task, but creating a driven team, staying organized, and following a plan are secrets to success. To dive into the critical formula of successful fundraising, read the National Recreation and Park Association’s Guide to Fundraising.
Investing in Long-Term Success
Acquiring funds for an outdoor gym is a part of the process. It can be a long process, but there are resources out there to help. In this blog, we looked at sponsorships, grants, purchasing cooperatives, and fundraising. While these are significant assets that should be taken advantage of, numerous alternatives exist. Putting in the effort in the short-term, will result in long-term success once your outdoor gym has been installed.