Stamford's Free Outdoor Gym Reopens to the Public
Mayor hopes the facility will boost health and bring people together
Stamford’s Mayor says the reopening of the Frank Newbon outdoor gym means being active will now be accessible to more people in the area.
The gym, based on Stamford Recreation Ground, is back open after Stamford Town Council took over running it.
It will be open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, after being forced to close last year following an injury claim.
Mayor of Stamford, Councillor Amanda Wheeler, says the free facility is already attracting a variety of people:
“I think there are lots of groups that go and do group exercise there, which obviously means that you are looking after your physical wellbeing, but you’re also looking after your social health as well."
"The great thing about the gym is that it’s completely free, so a lot of people, they want to exercise, they perhaps don't have a gym membership, and it just provides a free, easy place to go."
"There are barriers for people to access gyms, and there are barriers to joining fitness clubs, and so offering a service that is completely free and available for everyone.”
She added the gym is designed for all ages and abilities:
“There is an area where there’s equipment, particularly for youth, and there’s also, I think there’s some wheelchair accessible fitness as well."
"Hopefully, it’s a place that can be enjoyed by everybody."
"People need to look after it because we don’t want it to close again. If there are any incidents of vandalism or any antisocial behaviour, it might mean that we have to review the opening times. It may mean that it has to close for a period.”
The Frank Newbon outdoor gym was originally a community project, crowd-funded by local residents.
Now the council will be looking after the facility.