Duane Hicks
Local residents, particularly seniors, will have access to several pieces of outdoor fitness equipment along the riverfront starting next spring.
A collective of groups interested in social, educational, active, and safe recreation opportunities for seniors, including the Community Garden Committee, the Energetic Adults Getting Exercise Regularly: Beginning Wave of Busy Baby-Boomers (EAGER Bs), Northwestern Health Unit, and Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (S.A.L.T.), recently was awarded a New Horizons grant for outdoor fitness equipment.
“We have quite a movement now to get seniors more active,” said Elaine Fischer, physical activity health promoter at the Northwestern Health Unit.
“We have an aging population and one way to keep seniors safe is to ensure that strength, balance, and cardio is there,” she noted.
“So ‘EAGER Bs’ is doing some great work; we have some community partners doing things like urban poling.
“I was in discussion with another community and they had these outdoor fitness stations,” added Fischer. “That’s sort of where the interest originated from.”
She also said Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft pointed out a newspaper article regarding a small Manitoba community that had outdoor fitness stations for seniors.
“We thought, ‘This is wonderful for Fort,’” reasoned Fischer.
“We have these seniors groups that are quite active, and it’s another great, low-cost opportunity for older adults, and any other member of the population in Fort Frances, to try and increase physical activity.”
The equipment is like “playground equipment for adults,” explained Fischer, noting the sturdy equipment could range from a ski walker, a chest press, or an air walker to an elliptical trainer or an recumbent bike for people that can’t use a conventional one.
“We’re looking at a variety of pieces to take on different components, like strength and cardio,” she added.
The equipment is easy to install, low-maintenance, can withstand the elements, and is easy to use for a wide variety of ages.
Fischer said S.A.L.T. was consulted regarding locations for the equipment, types of equipment, and the bigger picture as to what active seniors want, such as ensuring the town has picnic tables accessible for people in wheelchairs.
The New Horizons grant will be able to pay for two pieces of equipment, but Fischer said she’s looking do a little more fundraising to get enough money for a third one.
“They’re not cheap pieces of equipment,” she admitted. “But they’re long-term.
“I would like to see us start with three or four but right now, we don’t have the funding for that,” said Fischer, though noting the initiative definitely is getting local support.
“The town has been wonderful in providing in-kind use of land,” she said. “They’re also going to assist with installation . . . which is wonderful.
“That’s the beauty of this,” Fischer enthused. “S.A.L.T. is behind it, the Town of Fort Frances is behind it, we have a number of sub-committees working all toward the same goal.”
The idea is people walking along the waterfront can stop at the stations, build that workout into their routine, and then keep walking.
“That’s the beauty of having it on the waterfront. We know people are there walking—it’s an added bonus for people,” said Fischer, adding even the private-sector can use them.
For example, Energy Fitness has a run/walk program and it can build in a stop at these stations, as well.
Council agreed Monday night that the town will do its part to help get people more active via in-kind contributions.
Public Works, for instance, will pour several concrete pads at the locations as part of its regular concrete activity next spring.
The equipment will be installed by the Community Services division, which also would be responsible for the minimal on-going maintenance of it.
