Overview

Fresh Air Fitness delivered state-of-the-art outdoor gym equipment for Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. Products were produced in the client's bespoke colours and installed into branded wet pour surfacing to create an ‘Active Space’, giving everybody the opportunity to be active.

Background

Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park is the only venue outside a host city that the International Olympic Committee has allowed to use the word ‘Olympic’ in its title. The Park is a regeneration project in the East End of Sheffield and has been developed as a hub of world-class innovation in sport, health and wellbeing.

As part of the ongoing development of the area and to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, Fresh Air Fitness was approached and asked to use its state-of-the-art outdoor gym equipment to create an ‘Active Space’ which would give everybody the opportunity to be active.

The ‘Active Space’ mission was to add movement to a person’s day, whether that be a 5-minute workout or a full hour-long session – it didn’t matter how long the exercise lasted – the important thing was to offer people the chance to be up and moving about.

Challenge

The challenge was to design and install a selection of outdoor gym equipment which was ‘on -brand’, built upon existing world-class facilities, and provide access to people of all fitness abilities.

The outdoor gym would be there to support improvements in health and wellbeing of the local population as well as promoting social integration, accessibility and inclusion.

The outdoor gym had to include a range of equipment which covered off cardio, strength, balance and flexibility and had to include pieces specifically designed for wheelchair users.

Solution

In October 2022, the brand-new Active Space, funded by the Westfield Health Charitable Trust and supported by the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park project team, was officially opened to the general public.

The outdoor gym was a best of breed solution involving:

  • A gym which provides activities for up to 26 users at the same time built around the company's award-winning Big Rig.

  • The gym included items from the variable resistance range and wheelchair-accessible products in order to offer facilities for the breadth of the community.

  • A high-quality 210 square metre rubber wet pour surfacing solution laid on top of a compacted, permeable stone base with an edged perimeter to further define the gym space.

  • Bespoke signage to inform users as well as including some motivation tips.

  • Landscaping work to make the gym area aesthetically pleasing.

  • Support of the official launch and ongoing induction sessions planned for Spring 2023.

The outdoor gym area includes pieces designed for all body functions - building strength, developing cardiovascular fitness, improving flexibility, balance and co-ordination. As well as covering all body functions, the gym truly has facilities for everyone in the community – from beginner to advanced user.

The gym is designed in an orange, grey and black colourway in line with Westfield Health’s brand colours.

Testimonial

Claire Fretwell, Operations Manager and Project Lead, said:

"We really appreciated the flexibility and professionalism when working with Fresh Air Fitness.

“They went above and beyond to provide exactly what we needed, including arranging bespoke colours for the gym equipment.

“The new outdoor gym will be long lasting, sustainable and benefit the community for years to come. It was a great project to work on and I would definitely recommend working with the Fresh Air Fitness team."