It’s summertime and there’s no better time to be outside walking, bicycling, playing sports, and hitting the gym – the outdoor gym, that is. Did you know that many community parks offer outdoor fitness equipment for different age groups and skill levels? While parks are normally considered places to relax, socialize and take in nature, many parks and rec departments have added outdoor gym equipment and exercise stations to promote physical activity and attract a wider range of park visitors.
Outdoor fitness equipment has advanced over the years to offer a variety of workout machines, benches, stationary bikes, stepping pads, and ladders that improve everything from coordination and flexibility to strength and endurance. Durable and easy to use, today’s industrial-grade outdoor fitness equipment makes workouts more interesting and fun.
If you’re one of those people who head to an indoor gym to get your workout in, we have three reasons why you should skip the traditional gym and use the fitness equipment found at a local park:
1. A better workout environment
Tired of the noise, crowds and stale smell of an indoor gym? An outdoor gym solves all those problems! Park environments provide varied scenery, plenty of fresh air, as well as much-needed vitamin D from the sun. They also offer benches, picnic tables, shade areas and other amenities where you can rest between reps and refresh after a workout. In addition to physical benefits, park environments also boost your mental well-being. Nothing beats a beautiful day outdoors!
2. Fitness equipment for all ages and skill levels
Exercise can be a family affair when there is equipment for children, adults, and seniors. More and more parks are turning their outdoor space into a fitness destination by having fitness equipment and activities for different ages and skill levels. Children can get exercise while having fun on rock climbers, scaling ladders, and stepping pads. Teens and adults can use quad exercise stations for warm-up that feature multiple exercises to work arm, leg, and back muscles, then they can build up their cardio on sky walkers and plyometric boxes. Seniors can enjoy low-impact workouts on outdoor equipment like shoulder rotation stations, seated hand bikes, and assisted step-up platforms. Outdoor fitness stations enable parents to show their kids just how fun – and important – exercising can be and together they can stay in shape.
3. It’s free to use!
With today’s skyrocketing costs for goods and services, everyone is looking for a way to save money. So why pay for a monthly membership to a gym when you can enjoy a better, more impactful workout outdoors at no cost? Research shows that people who exercise outdoors are more likely to repeat the behavior than those who exercise indoors. So stop paying for a gym membership you probably don’t use enough, and get out to your local park as often as you want, when you want, for free!
The outdoor fitness phenomenon
Outdoor fitness is gaining traction across the country. With a variety of equipment available to provide an array of exercises and stretches, dedicated outdoor fitness stations serve many needs and do so much good.
As part of a citywide fitness initiative, the City of San Antonio installed outdoor fitness stations in 28 city parks in 2013. The equipment was such a hit that they expanded their fitness equipment and now have fitness stations in 47 parks. Parkgoers can exercise on row machines, seated leg presses, cycling machines, and more. Plus, they offer helpful QR codes on the front of each machine so visitors can watch instructional videos on how to use their more than 35 different pieces of equipment.
In 2019, AARP partnered with FitLot to plan and build an outdoor fitness park in every U.S. state as well as the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. In three short years, AARP and FitLot accomplished their goal and now have 53 parks. Each FitLot is shaded, safely surfaced, and features 11 pieces of equipment with instructional signs and videos for users.
Park Tables believes exercise is a great way to improve physical and mental health while bringing families and communities together. That is why we offer a large line of commercial-grade outdoor workout equipment. Constructed of fade- and rust-resistant materials like powder-coated steel and high-density polyethylene, our equipment stands up to the outdoor elements for years of use. Also, our products are made in the USA and adhere to the National Standards for Safety and Quality by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Whether you work for a park and rec department, an HOA community or school, or are simply a parkgoer who loves the idea of exercising outside, visit our site to see the latest types of outdoor fitness equipment and multi-equipment stations.
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