A new outdoor gym that will help with physical and mental health is in the works in the city.
Located at Shakespeare Spark adjacent to Stratford’s All Wheels Park, the outdoor facility will feature a circuit of exercise equipment available to all ages and abilities.
Bruce Whittaker, founder and developer of the popular local park, said the gym idea is the newest phase of the overall park experience, and it will compliment existing offerings.
“What about a gym, someone suggested?” Whittaker said when looking back on the initial planning stages. He was surprised, thinking at the time that some of the skaters at the park would perhaps ask for another skate bowl.
All-Wheels park is as it sounds, with features for skaters and bikers.
Whittaker said the calisthenics-style workout station will allow anyone to get in a workout regardless of age, body weight or what kind of shape they are in.
The station set-up will also build camaraderie, offering a chance to interact in an outdoor, natural setting, which will help with mental health, also.
“It’s important to get youth out in nature for physical and mental health.
“It’s also about communicating and talking to one another.”
Local not-for-profits have chipped-in to help with funding, with $60,000 of the $125,000 total cost raised so far.
Whittaker is hoping to have the gym finished by the fall.
“I want to build it this year. The reason being, I have learned from the other phases, that a year is a long time in a youth’s life. Sometimes it means a young person might even be graduating out of Stratford and going to college.
“So there is a real immediacy and urgency to get this built sooner rather than later.”
Whittaker hopes the project will be completed by September.
A fundraiser will be held June 13 at Relic Lobby Bar from 5-7 p.m.
The combination of an outdoor setting, offering something for all ages and potentially families, or local teams using the equipment is a win-win for all, Whittaker said.
“What could be better than bringing people together for exercise and mental health?”
