An exercise in migration

With the popularity of the walking track on the top floor of Wellington’s new community centre, the department of Recreation, Parks and Culture is hoping the senior outdoor exercise equipment will get more use here—some will go into the arena, and some will go outside, on the grassy strip in front.

Seniors’ outdoor fitness equipment moving to its third home

Wellington will be getting some brand new exercise equipment, and some not so new equipment, too.

The upper floor of the new arena in Wellington, which features a well-used walking track, was slated to receive some pieces of exercise equipment.

The process to find just the right pieces took time. Every piece needed to be able to be able to withstand the dramatic temperature fluctuations peculiar to an arena, without becoming warped or damaged over time.

In consultation with local fitness experts to help find the ideal equipment for the demographic, the County’s department of Recreation, Parks and Culture found the right pieces, and they are currently on order.

When they arrive, they are sure to be used. PEFAC’s Tracy Powers, who is going to run fitness programs out of the arena, will try to encourage seniors who already use the walking track and those who live nearby to come out and make use of the equipment.

When the new equipment arrives, it will likely be complemented by a set of equipment the County has owned since 2003, but that hasn’t seen much use yet. The equipment, which currently sits unused in Delhi Park in Picton, should be pulled from the ground there and moved to the arena.

As of press time, County council had not yet voted to approve the move, which was expected to go through during Tuesday evening’s council meeting.

Wellington will be the third home for the unlucky equipment. Built in 2003, the pieces were purchased as part of a provincial initiative called the Super Build fund. They were designed for lowimpact, Pilates-style fitness. They were geared toward the elderly, those with low mobility, or anyone who wanted to use them.

Nobody did.

“The first time, it was located in a place in Delhi Park that was not very visible, and it was way up at the far end of the park. Plus we had some runoff issues so it was flooding,” said parks Commissioner Barry Braun. “We wanted to put it in an area that was more visible, more accessible. So we moved it to the lower part of Delhi park thinking and hoping that it would be more visible, get more use.”

The equipment didn’t get more use, despite a County-run initiative to promote the equipment and Delhi Park in general, with programming including weekly classes for seniors on the equipment; but interest waned, and eventually the classes stopped.

The department hoped that because Delhi park was such a large, beautiful green space, they could attract more people to use it, but it was not the case. Braun says that one reason may be the old water treatment plant that sits just east of the park. When the plant was still in use, there was a constant odour coming from it, which likely put residents off of the park.

The parks department would not be defeated. Consulting with the people whose business is senior fitness in the County, the department sought out the ideal location for the equipment: somewhere easily accessible, that would allow for use of the equipment without worrying about expending money and time on creating programming, and without having to worry about vandals.

Several options were considered, including leaving the pieces where they are and adding programming to draw users, or moving the equipment to another park like Benson Park, Downes Avenue park, or the Picton fairgrounds. The parks department recommended Wellington arena as the best choice.

The cost to move the equipment was estimated at about $4,000. Some will go indoors with the new equipment, while other pieces will be located on the grassy strip beside the south wall of the arena. Once it is there, Braun says the parks department will monitor usage, but he is optimistic.

“We’re not entirely sure what we might propose [if the equipment remains unused],” said Braun. “We are anticipating that it will be used so as a result we really haven’t considered the alternative at this point.”