Installations to look good

One of the pieces of outdoor gym being installed on Marine Parade.

Outdoor fitness equipment is to be installed on land south of the National Aquarium in the latest move to spruce up Napier's Marine Parade.

Earthworks have begun at the site but it is likely to be a few weeks before the Hawke's Bay-designed and manufactured exercise equipment is installed on the council reserve.

The development follows an agreement between Napier City Council and GymGuru, a company which contracts the design and manufacture of its specialist equipment to local businesses.

GymGuru director Brett Forsyth said the business had struck an "innovative deal" with the council which allowed it to trial the equipment for 12 months before deciding to keep it, at which point it would be able to purchase it for the cost price.

Five pieces of equipment from GymGuru's range - which includes a stationary bike, elliptical cross trainer and seated leg press machine - would be installed.

"We're not making any money out of this transaction, it's being done as a pilot offering to try and help us promote ourselves and keep an R&D (research and development) base close to our factory in Napier," Mr Forsyth said.

The machines' "resistance" levels was adjusted using electromagnetic fields, meaning there were few external moving parts, making them suitable to outdoor conditions and resistant to vandalism.

"We've got machines installed in several parks in South Auckland, which is a pretty tough testing ground, and we've not had a single case of vandalism in almost three years," Mr Forsyth said.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said the installation of the outdoor fitness centre was part of the council's ongoing work to make Marine Parade more attractive and appealing to both residents and visitors.

The work includes a $5.7 million redevelopment of the now-closed Marineland site which is to be turned into a recreation facility for roller-sports and other activities.

Last month the council opened a "pump track" south of the aquarium aimed at allowing young bike and scooter riders.