Looking for ways to improve your park? Outdoor fitness equipment is the way to go!
Are you considering upgrading your park or outdoor space with the addition of our outdoor fitness equipment but not sure how it will look? Let our Showcase Series help you. In this blog, we will look at our vibrant outdoor fitness park installed at Parque de Los Niños in Santa Barbara, California, and highlight its positive impacts on their community.
The Background: Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department
The Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department is a vital and dynamic element of the community, committed to enhancing the lives of both residents and visitors. The department oversees a diverse array of parks, including coastal treasures, botanical gardens, and community green spaces. Each park provides distinct opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and cultural enrichment.
The Problem: Poor Choice Yields Poor Return
In the Spring of 2023, the City of Santa Barbara encountered a problem. They had recently installed twelve outdoor fitness stations in one of their larger parks but found that maintenance was becoming a big issue. This was an issue that they didn’t want to spend time or resources fixing. The equipment they had installed required replacement parts that shipped from China, reducing the time the community could effectively use their outdoor gym. The city wanted to provide their community with outdoor fitness equipment but needed to ensure their chosen equipment maximized their return.
The Resolution: Real Outdoor Fitness Equipment Built Tough
The department determined it was time to acquire new outdoor fitness equipment to satisfy the needs of their community. They identified three main project goals:
Identify a more robust and low-maintenance alternative to replace existing fitness equipment
Create an outdoor fitness site that adheres to ASTM standards
Optimize the formerly underused area of their park to its full potential
The Solution: Outdoor-Fit Exercise Systems
After extensive research, Santa Barbara came across Outdoor-Fit Exercise Systems. They chose Outdoor-Fit equipment because it is designed with durability and maintenance in mind. The department installed an Apollo Multigym and two Everest Cardio Climbers. The equipment was installed in an underutilized, smaller area of Parque de Los Niños previously occupied by benches, with a playground nearby.
The Result: Outdoor Gym for the Whole Community
This project represents the first Outdoor-Fit project in the city. It is an exciting project that fosters community engagement and helps to enhance the mental and physical health of all visitors and residents. The decision to choose this outdoor fitness equipment, which complies with ASTM safety standards and can be used by anyone regardless of age or fitness level, shows Santa Barbara’s commitment to a healthier community. Due to the compact footprint, the equipment could fit into the smaller area of the park. The two Everest Cardio Climbers face the nearby playground so parents and caregivers can safely watch their children play while enjoying a cardio workout. Since this neighborhood qualifies as low to moderate income, equipment was purchased with a Community Development Block Grant. Previously, members of this community didn’t have much access to any fitness equipment indoors or outdoors, that provided real exercise value with both body weight and resistance training stations. Now, community members have shown their gratitude for their new outdoor gym by creating a routine of using the Apollo multigym at the same time each day to maximize the free workout opportunity. Overall, the equipment installation has been an enormous success and continues to see daily use by teens and adults from all over the community.
