AN outdoor exercise park at Mollymook could be up and running as early as November this year.
Fitness fanatics have been lobbying for a park to be constructed near Mollymook Beach and, after securing funding and support from Shoalhaven City Council, can’t wait for work to commence.
The Milton-Ulladulla Apex Club has thrown its support behind the project that will provide outdoor gym facilities and callisthenics equipment that can be used by people of any age and with all levels of fitness.
Apex president Matt Dell said after meeting with council staff last week, tenders have been chosen for the project which should take 12 weeks to complete.
He said the park would feature standard static items such as chin up bars, push up, sit up and parallel bars as well as additional items for wider use including special outdoor cardio machines and instruction panels for each item.
“There are items to suit all abilities including older and less able including cardio steps of various heights,” Matt said.
“Mums will be able to sit on the exercise bike or cross trainer whilst watching their kids play on the swings.”
He said the funding application was based on creating the multiple use of an existing area.
Matt commended council for taking on board the suggestions of local fitness enthusiasts such as Darren Butt who instigated the project.
Darren is doing backflips – literally – about the news and said the facility would offer cheap training opportunities for people.
“At the moment there is a massive shift from gym style training towards the more traditional bodyweight method of training, used mainly by gymnasts and circus performers,” he said.
“This is due to the large amount of Parkour and Callisthenics-based videos on Youtube and it’s enabling people to learn training techniques and tricks on line and express their own creativity while at the same time getting fit and healthy.”
Darren said the Mollymook park will cater for those in the Parkour and Callisthenics community, but at the same time will be “very beneficial to our aging population, new mothers and personal trainers in the area”.
“I think the best feature of the park is that it will give low income earners in the area, that can't afford gym memberships, the opportunity to use quality equipment at one of the best locations on the coast,” he explained.
“Equipment like parallel bars, pull-up bars, ab and leg stations and push-up stations are exactly what I have been pushing for, and the stuff that gets me excited about this park.
“But it is the outdoor machine style equipment that will provide the most interest for most people I think.
“The design of the park and equipment provided will please everyone in the community looking to get fit and healthy, without the costs of going to a gym.”
The fitness park will be located alongside the children’s playground on Mitchell Parade and will cost about $50,000 to design and construct.
Matt said any left-over funds would be spent in improving other facilities in the park.
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