Oxford residents will be able to take advantage of five new fitness trails at parks across the city, thanks to more than £316,000 investment.
Oxford City Council has installed the trails in The Leys (the trail runs between Blackbird Leys Park, Gillians Park and Spindleberry Park), Cowley Marsh Recreation Group, Rose Hill Recreation Ground, Hollow Way Recreation Ground, and between South Park and Headington Hill Park.
The three-year project has seen outdoor gym equipment – ranging from exercise bikes, running machines and crossfit machines – installed in the parks. The equipment is free to use, accessible to all and open 24 hours a day.
The trails were installed following £255,457 investment from Oxford City Council and two WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Limited) grants totalling £61,390.
A sixth trail, funded by the Friends of Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park and Cutteslowe Community Association, has also been installed in Sunnymead Park.
Each of the exercise stations at the fitness trails has clear instructions on the exercises that can be done. Some even have QR codes on them, which allow people with smart phones to watch a brief demonstration.
Councillor Mark Lygo, Oxford City Council Executive Board Member for Leisure, Sport and Events, said: “Fitness trails are a fun way to get out and exercise in the fresh air, but they can also help reduce stress levels and improve mental health.
“We hope that residents, families and students from across the city will use the trails as part of their daily lives.”
The official opening of all five fitness trails, on Friday 4 December 2015, will see a day of celebrations featuring schools children, students and Oxford United footballers.
The day will kick off at Rose Hill Recreation Ground with children from Rose Hill Primary School trying out the trail, before Oxford Brookes students are put through their paces at South Park later in the day. Oxford United stars and mascot Ollie the Ox will finish the day by completing the trail at Blackbird Leys Park.
For more information about the fitness trails, please visit our Fit Trails page.
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