It's all working out in the park

Beach Haven's senior residents are fighting fit and full of life since the council installed fitness equipment in a local park, as Valerie Schuler discovers
Efforts to get North Shore locals off the couch and into their tracksuits are paying off. Just a few weeks after installation, senior fitness equipment at Beach Haven's Shepherd's Park has locals sweating up a storm.
Long-time resident Zoe Vucich is just one of many to be making the most of the new equipment.
``I came down to the park with my dogs one day and there it was,' says the 50-year-old psychotherapist. ``I don't go to the gym because of time and convenience, so this is perfect for me. The park is a wonderful community meeting place and it's nice to see the [Birkenhead/Northcote] community board giving it some attention.'
The mother-of-five now goes to the park for regular upper-body weight work outs to complement her daily walk.
The Aucklander earlier reported the fitness trail was originally planned for Greenslade Reserve in Northcote. The council reconsidered because Shepherd's Park is already used by many walkers and joggers.
``The community board preferred Shepherd's Park as it wanted the fit ness trail in a location that people were already exercising at and which had path access,' says council capital pro jects manager, Julie Pickering.
The new equipment cost $15,000 and includes a shoulder press, air walker, leg press, cross trainer and lat pull-down machine.
Designed as a low-impact exercise, suitable for older folks, the machines use a person's own body weight to build strength.
Painted in bright red and yellow, they look a little like giant play equipment.
Mrs Vucich reckons the fitness trail isn't just for the elderly.
``I've seen people of all ages and stages using it and all of them are smil ing,' she says. ``Often this part of the North Shore doesn't get a lot of attention, so people are really grateful.'
Shepherd's Park is a trial run. Depending on how many people use the equipment and how well it stands up to the weather, there could be more fitness trails in store for the North Shore.
``Fitness equipment in an outdoor setting is an internationally growing trend,' says Ms Pickering. ``It is very popular throughout Asia where it is common practise to exercise in your local park. Historically there has not been equipment designed to be robust enough for an outdoor setting.'
The council says it has received very positive feedback about the equipment so far. One resident, who tried the equipment with his wife, wrote in to say he hadn't laughed so much in years. valerie.schuler@theaucklander. co.nz
28 05 2009