While a rainy and humid morning wasn’t the best weather for an outdoor workout, Peterborough’s first adult outdoor gym was officially opened today (June 13) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Beavermead Park.
Representatives from the City of Peterborough, the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha, and the Rotary Club of Peterborough attended the event, with remarks made by Mayor Daryl Bennett, Peterborough Kawartha Rotary Club president Len Lifchus, and incoming Peterborough Rotary Club president Ken Tremblay.
The outdoor gym equipment was funded by contributions of $25,000 each from Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha and the Rotary Club of Peterborough, with $40,000 committed by the City of Peterborough.
The Rotary Outdoor Gym is located in Beavermead Park just north of the beach volleyball courts and beside the beach. It includes a variety of exercise machines, some of which are accessible for people with disabilities.
At the opening, Peterborough Kawartha Rotary Club member Tom Bennett explained the background of the project, which was several years in the making. While the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha conceived of the idea, both the Rotary Club of Peterborough and the City of Peterborough quickly came on board, he said.
“This is a gift to the City of Peterborough for the sesquicentennial year,” Tom Bennett said, and introduced the two Rotary Club presidents, city councillors Keith Riel and Gary Baldwin who represent the ward, and Mayor Daryl Bennett.
“This is another project where partnership plays such a vital role in what we do in this community,” Mayor Bennett said, acknowledging the contribution of the two Rotary Clubs.
“Fifty thousand dollars from Rotary and forty thousand dollars from the city makes it possible for a whole bunch of people in this community to make use of (the gym), for a long time.”
Peterborough Kawartha Rotary Club president Len Lifchus also spoke.
“On behalf of the 47 members of the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha, we are delighted to give the city this gift, along with the Peterborough Club,” he said.
Lifchus thanked project chair Wendy Swain, along with Rob Anderson from the city’s parks department and Phil Jacobs from the city’s public works department, for helping to make the project happen.
“We’ve already heard and seen people using this gym in the last couple of weeks since it was completed,” Lifchus added. “We’re really excited that the residents of Peterborough are helping us make a difference in our community, by jumping on the gym and participating and getting fit.”
After Lifchus finished his remarks, incoming Peterborough Rotary Club president Ken Tremblay also made remarks.
“The 77 members of the Peterborough Rotary Club really came forward to support it,” Tremblay said. “It’s really important we can enrich the community to create a legacy of fitness and engagement … let’s hope we can become a real fit community.”
The gym was designed and constructed by New World Park Solutions in Brantford, an authorized dealer for Playworld Systems, which supplied the equipment.
New World Park Solutions project manager Brian Salter, who has been in the playground industry for 18 years, travelled to Peterborough to attend the official opening.
VIDEO: Official opening of Peterborough’s first outdoor adult gym
