Do you want an outdoor gym in Finsbury Park?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by GillianM on November 3, 2009 at 18:21

I would definitely use it and I am not an aggressive man with a large dog! I have used the play equipment down by the river to exercise in the past. That area is more pleasant than the tennis court area as somwehere to exercise and I don't particularly understand concerns about the visual effects of it - in my experience this is wooden equipment with minimal metal and plastic. There are so many people that run in the park that I think it would be really popular.

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Permalink Reply by Chris brock on November 3, 2009 at 19:47

Personally I'd like to keep the American Gardens as they are - I'm not a massive fan of outdoor gyms, to me they are more Venice Beach than Finsbury Park, but if there is enough demand then the area by the basketball courts seems very sensible

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Permalink Reply by Judith Box on November 4, 2009 at 17:33

I think it's a great idea. It's good to see initiatives that promote health and well being, and offer people a chance to channel excess energys in a postive manner.

If the local 'yoof' are encouraged to let of steam through exercise all the better for the community.

I also think it's good for thse things to be in the public domain - as they create a sense of people looking after themselves and provides good role models to our children about what what being active and healthy actually looks like.

I think our local parks and green areas are ideal exercising grounds for the local community - and I would like to see more local schools encouraged to use the open spaces. London schools lack good exercise facilities for their pupils - but they almost all have access to open/green spaces - if only they were more creative about how they could use these we could encourage and foster the idea that exercise is a vital part of everyday life.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Price on November 4, 2009 at 22:18

I think these are a really good idea - I am neither aggressive, nor a man, nor do I have a large dog. If visible from the road, perhaps more people are likely to see an outdoor gym and therefore use it. I was wondering when Haringey was going to get with the programme and catch up with other boroughs who have been offering these in parks (for all ages!) for some time. For purely selfish reasons - (ie this is the part of the park nearest where I enter it) I would be really happy for it to be situated in the American Gardens.
Thanks for asking for views

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Permalink Reply by Adele Prince on November 5, 2009 at 20:12

Yes, I think it is a good idea. I have been in the small play area with my little boy and have had to endure the grunting of exercising chaps doing chin-ups and so on with the play area equipment, very inventive, but not what it's meant to be used for!

Its success does depend on what is in the outdoor gym, if it is like the one near Wood Green, then it probably won't be used very much; I've never seen anyone in there.

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Permalink Reply by JD on November 6, 2009 at 16:44

I too think its a fantastic idea; anything that increases opportunities for young people/adults to exercise/do constructive activity for free can only be positive. Many people already train in the area, using the hill for sprinting and the baseball field for training activities, so positioning it near the American Gardens would suit many current users of the park. I think anything that encourages this is great, but as many others have noted the play area near the American Gardens is frequently used by people to exercise when it was not designed for that purpose. It can feel a bit awkward when you want to go in there with young children to run around and adults are using the equipment ( lots of people doing one to one training I think) and males often hang out on the benches to cool down, which again isn't ideal. Some of the equipment has now been damaged and although I have no idea if this is due to adults exercising on it, I imagine that if people heavier than it was designed for use it regularly it's going to take its toll .

I also feel that more activities going on in that area may make it actually feel safer and stop so many people driving their dogs there to use it as a 'dog toilet' as they are more likely to be seen doing it. The children's park and area around the American Gardens does seem a bit neglected (more litter /broken glass etc there) so it may be good for there to be a greater presence of park users in the area.

I think the play area for children should remain as its good to go to a quieter space sometimes when the other play ground can get very busy. Its designed for older children which is good but also the soft surface means young children can have a safe crawl/scooter etc in a confined space that near to a nice picnic area. Its really handy to be able to pop into the park from Endymion road for a quick play, rather than going up over the hill to the main area & I know may other parents who use it for that purpose too

Thanks for asking our views and hopefully they can be taken into account.

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Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on November 5, 2009 at 20:37

Anne, is this by any chance yet another of those Adidas adiZone Olympic logo things, designed to give Adidas 20 years of 'legacy' advertising ? Is that why it needs to be within clear view of Endymion Road? If so, it's a worse idea than the McBridge ad.

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Permalink Reply by Yvonne on November 5, 2009 at 21:19

I think it is a great idea. I too am not an aggressive man and do not have a dog.

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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on November 5, 2009 at 21:35

But would you use it if there was a man there with an aggressive dog?

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Permalink Reply by OneWomanAndHerDog on November 6, 2009 at 10:20

Personally I find it disheartening that after so much money was spent on removing ugly accretions and restoring the Park's beauty Haringey Council seem so intent on building whatever ill-conceived monstrosities come to mind with little regard for good design, appropriateness of location or sensitivity to the surroundings.

First it was the additional paving and dog compound (both rectilinear, concrete slabbed) by the new (curvelinear, limestone paved) cafe; now this.

Surely a simpler solution would be to have a Park Ranger who asks people to stop using the play equipment as a gym and for all park users to be considerate of other park users.

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on November 6, 2009 at 10:46

Here's a story just published in The Journal about fears over a simillar initiative up near Ally Pally.

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Permalink Reply by JD on November 9, 2009 at 16:36

Thanks, great to know opinions will be shared with those planning the parks future.

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