Back in January 2008, the UK’s first outdoor playground for the elderly was opened in Manchester adjacent to an existing children’s playground. First thing, fantastic stuff! “You might say I’m being daft but it gives you a real buzz and afterwards you feel fantastic,” Peggy Yuill, 74, told Reuters by telephone from the bustling post-launch lunch. “We can’t believe how it has taken off.”

The playground consisted of a cycling machine, and machines that give the feeling you are skiing or using your wheelchair. Children need to stay fit and healthy and have fun which is why their playgrounds are created, so why not for the elderly as well, who have a much greater need to stay active. Just the thought of children and the elderly side by side exercising gives you such a positive feeling. Offering elderly people free access to equipment like this, can only be of a benefit and this is exactly what Adidas thought as they launched their take on the idea, ‘adiZones’ – outdoor fitness gyms which are free. To tie in with the London 2012 Olympics, Adidas built the first adiZone in Wennington Green, Tower Hamlets. The area includes, bike and ski machines, a cross trainer, treadmill and even a tennis wall. Providing the public with free access to exercise facilities, both ideas can improve the well being of local residents in areas where people usually wouldn’t be able to gain access to them.

I can easily see this working in countries like the US, where obesity is problem, and where just putting up another sports pitch (see Nike ReUSE A SHOE) may not always be the solution. Free outdoor gyms and exercise facilities tailored to the needs of local communities would surely be more beneficial than another football pitch or tennis court?

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL3081924620080130

http://www.outdoorgymblog.com/adizones/