Thunder Bay launches outdoor gym pilot project

Thunder Bay residents can enjoy a workout in the park thanks to a new pilot project.

The city has installed a set of workout equipment at Minnesota Park, and could be doing so at other city greenspaces depending on how popular it proves to be.

"It's year-round use," saidWerner Schwar, supervisor of parks and open space planning. "It's meant to give a total body workouteverything from balance and core to arm strength to aerobic fitness."

The equipment is located at the south end of Minnesota Park, which can be found between Atlantic and Pacific avenues.

It includes chin-up bars, leg and chest presses, and an upright cycle. In all, there are 13 stations, and all operate on bodyweight; there are no removable plates, for example.

"There are some moving parts," Schwar said. "But it's meant to be a whole range of activities, and because it has minimal moving parts, that's why we can use it all year round."

The Minnesota Park equipment cost the city about $75,000, Schwar said.

He said the city was initially approached about the equipment by Age-Friendly Thunder Bay about four years ago. Other communities have installed similar equipment, and there was a desire to see it in Thunder Bay, as well.

"We finally chose this park because we have an active neighbourhood group in [Evergreen A United Neighbourhood]," Schwar said. "We have an existing pool, we have existing play equipment, so it made sense to put it here."

Linda Bruins, executive director of Evergreen, said the equipment will be effective in connecting the community around Minnesota Park.

"This is a wonderful addition," she said. "People need a place to gather."

"Exercise is a great stress reliever, so I believe this is going to be fantastic for our community."

Pilot project

Schwar said the city may install similar equipment in other city parks, depending on how much the Minnesota Park installation is used.

"We're wantingto see how it's used, and who's using it and how much, and then look at possible other locations in the city," he said. "We haven't actually formalized any locations yet. We've been thinking, for sure, where it would make sense, but we haven't got that far."