How Santa Barbara Ended Maintenance Delays With Durable Outdoor Fitness Equipment
Location
Santa Barbara, CA (Parque de los Niños)
The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department is an integral part of the community, managing a diverse network of parks and green spaces that provide opportunities for recreation, wellness, and connection for residents and visitors alike.
At Parque de los Niños, the City of Santa Barbara replaced aging outdoor fitness stations that had sat idle for months while awaiting replacement parts shipped from overseas. The City chose durable, low-maintenance Outdoor-Fit equipment designed to provide a more reliable long-term solution. An Apollo Multigym and two Everest Cardio Climbers activated a previously underused space beside an existing playground, on an ASTM-compliant site funded by a Community Development Block Grant. The result is reliable, all-ages equipment that stays in service instead of out of order.
Project at a Glance
Customer: The City of Santa Barbara
Dealer: Pacific Park & Play
Selected Products: Apollo Multigym, Everest Cardio Climber
Installation Date: Spring 2023
Funding Model: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Outdoor-Fit x The City of Santa Barbara
The City of Santa Barbara project represents the first Outdoor-Fit project in the city. It is an exciting endeavor to enhance the well-being and active lifestyles of its residents. In collaboration with our dealer Pacific Park & Play, this fitness park aims to bring innovative and purposeful outdoor exercise equipment to the Parque de los Niños, a beloved outdoor space in the community. With the selection of cutting-edge products like an Apollo Multigym and two Everests Cardio Climbers, the project strives to turn this once underutilized space, into a dynamic hub for physical fitness, social engagement, and mental health improvement for people of all ages and fitness levels. The City of Santa Barbara's commitment to creating a healthier and more vibrant community shines through this inspiring venture. The use of safety surfacing and equipment placement also ensures that this project is compliant with safety standards and regulations.
Project Goals
- Find a more durable and low maintenance equipment option to replace the parks old equipment
- Create an ASTM compliant outdoor fitness site
- Maximize the current space that was previously underutilized
The Results: A Space Transformed and Well-Used
Energizing the once-underused area reduced misuse and made it a daily fixture for the neighborhood. Funded by a Community Development Block Grant, the installation has been praised by residents and is regularly used by teens and adults — a durable, equitable upgrade that stays in service.
A few years ago, the Department installed twelve outdoor fitness stations in a larger park and maintenance has been a big problem. Waiting months for parts to ship from China has reduced the time the equipment can be used by the community. The Department choose Outdoor-Fit Exercise Systems because it was designed with durability and maintenance in mind. The Department installed the Apollo and two Everest climbers in a park with an existing playground. The park property is shaped like a slice of pizza with the playground located in the widest area. The remaining thinner area was used under utilized by three bench sitting areas. Experience has taught us energizing a space reduces misuse. The outdoor fitness equipment we choose required only a small footprint and could fit into the remaining area. The two Everest Cardio Climbers face the playground so caregivers can safely watch children play while getting a cardio workout. We often see neighbors using the Apollo Multigym at the same time each day enjoying the free workout opportunity. The equipment was purchased with a Community Development Block Grant as the neighborhood qualifies as low to moderate income. The equipment installation has been praised by the Spanish speaking neighbors and is often used by teens and adults.
-Justin Van Mullem, City of Santa Barbara Capital Projects Supervisor
How does Outdoor-Fit compare to low-cost imported fitness equipment on maintenance?
Santa Barbara replaced older stations that sat idle for months waiting on parts shipped from overseas. Outdoor-Fit equipment is engineered for durability and low maintenance, so it stays in service instead of out of order — a major driver of long-term value. See our Real Exercise page for the difference.
Can outdoor fitness equipment fit a small or oddly shaped park space?
Yes. The equipment’s small footprint let the city activate a narrow, underused strip beside an existing playground — and energizing that space reduced misuse, while the cardio climbers face the play area so caregivers can watch children while they train.
What funding is available for fitness equipment in lower-income neighborhoods?
This project used a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), available where a neighborhood qualifies as low-to-moderate income — a common route for equitable park-fitness investments.