Rossendale Free Press

Mayor opens new outdoor gym at Haslingden’s Victoria Park

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MAYOR of Rossendale, Coun Granville Morris, got on his bike to officially open the new outdoor gym in Victoria Park in Haslingden.

The gym, which cost nearly £20,000, features six pieces of equipment, including a leg press, rower and a step box multi gym designed to exercise different parts of the body to provide a full workout.

It is located at the end of the path by the main entrance, overlookin­g the lower part of the park with views of the surroundin­g hills. The gym includes a board with full instructio­ns and each piece of equipment includes a QR code, which will allow smartphone users to view a video showing how to use each ●● From left: Coun David Stansfield, Christine Lamb, Rossendale Mayor Granville Morris and Coun Tony Haworth at the opening of the outdoor gym of the pieces.

The gym is free and accessible to everyone and one piece of equipment, a hand bike stem, is suitable for wheelchair users.

Coun Christine Lamb, Rossendale council’s portfolio holder for operationa­l services, said: “Our parks are a wonderful facility for people in Rossendale and the outdoor gym in Victoria Park enables people to exercise for free in lovely surroundin­gs.”

Harry Holden, from Friends of Victoria Park and secretary of Victoria Park Bowling Club, said: “The outdoor gym is a great addition to the park and is proving to be a very popular feature.”

The idea for an outdoor gym came from the Friends Group, which provided some £2,000 of the funding.

The lion’s share of the funding of £11,212 came from Rossendale Council and £6,000 came from a grant from the Rossendale Up and Active project, which is aimed at addressing high levels of inactivity.

Research suggests that providing outdoor gym equipment helps to CONTACT: CHARLOTTE GREEN OFFICE: 0161 211 2469 MOBILE: 07342 080524 @CharGreenM­EN charlotte.green@trinitymir­ror.com increase physical activity and reduces some of the barriers to taking part in exercise.

Providing free and accessible equipment in a pleasant, natural environmen­t helps to motivate people to exercise.

Victoria Park is on Helmshore Road in Haslingden and also features a children’s play area, bowling green, multi-use games area, bandstand and an Edwardian clock tower.

The opening of the gym was part of a £400,000 investment to improve both Victoria Park and Stubbylee and Moorlands parks over the next two years. There are also outdoor gyms in Stubbylee Park and Lumb Millennium Green.

A ‘FRIENDSHIP group’ is holding sessions in Haslingden.

The group, which is for anyone aged 55 and over, takes place on the first Monday of the month from 10am12pm at St Peter’s Community Centre on Hall Street.

The event gives people the opportunit­y to chat with friends and enjoy outings and guest speakers.

There will be refreshmen­ts and admission is £1.

For more informatio­n call Harry Brittain on 01706 250099.

HASLINGDEN Community Link is holding a free six-week positive parenting course starting from September 19.

To book a place or for more informatio­n ring 01706 238355.

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