REPLACEMENTS to the outdoor gym equipment located on the Western Road Recreation Ground is being carried out as part of a wider package of improvements to recreational facilities.
As a result of the outdoor gym coming to the end of its serviceable life, combined with the high usage of the equipment since its installation in 2012, work is underway for all the items of equipment to be replaced with new equipment that is accessible to all. The existing rubber mulch surface on site will be replaced with tarmac.
The project is being funded by using the Town Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds and will future-proof the outdoor gym for the next 10-15 years.
The all-weather outdoor gym located on the Western Road Recreation Ground, which is available to use 24 hours a day, was installed by the Town Council to encourage more people in Hailsham to take up exercise in the open air and improve their health.
The proposal to install an outdoor gym came from Hailsham Youth Council prior to being formally agreed by the Town Council in 2011. The Youth Council organised a small working party to look at the design of the facility, carry out a community survey on the benefits of installing an outdoor gym, and seeking funding for the project — of which £10,000 was awarded by the Awards For All scheme.
The equipment is suitable for anyone over 12 years and for all abilities and currently includes an air skier, cross country skier, double rower, seated leg-press and a push-up station, modelled similar to a playground.
The Town Council also maintains the outdoor gym equipment adjacent to the Maurice Thornton Playing Field in the east of the town.
All equipment in the Town Council’s outdoor gym and children’s play areas conform to strict health and safety guidelines and regular safety checks are carried out to ensure they are not damaged by vandalism or natural wear and tear, in addition to development work to improve the quality of play areas where necessary.
