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With flooring covered by regulation Chelford 52 and a whole host of brightly coloured rides, the new play area at Dam Head Park in Blackley, Manchester looks like any other childrens play park. However, this is an outdoor play park with a difference; its the Older Peoples Play Area - the UKs first playground for pensioners.
The specially designed 15,000 outdoor area was only constructed at the beginning of this year, but its already proven to be a big hit with the locals. One resident, Peggy Yuill, 74, is a real fan of the equipment. She said: "It makes you feel 21 again. It makes you feel good and gives you a real buzz. When the weather gets better I think it will really take off. When you get older, what's the point in just sitting on your bum?"
The playground was created to give elderly people space to socialise and exercise, helping them to enjoy a better quality of life. Although the emphasis is on playing and having fun, the area has a number of obvious health benefits. It features six pieces of outdoor fitness equipment, which have been specifically designed to provide gentle exercise, as well as strengthen the hips, tone the legs and train the upper body.
The opening of the Older Peoples Play Area is a real victory for the Dam Head Residents Association, who embarked on a two-year quest to provide suitable leisure facilities for their older members. Inspiration for their unusual pensioners project struck after members read an article about a similar play area in Germany.
Dam Head Residents Association Chairperson Joan Fitzgerald, 76, believes that the play area has made fitness fun for the residents. She said: "We were looking for anything we could do for the residents of this area, and this was a new idea. The equipment is great. It's a laugh-a-minute. If it makes people laugh and there is exercise involved, then how can it be a bad thing? Laughter is the best medicine in the world."
Age Concern also praised the play area and expressed hopes that similar facilities would be provided throughout the UK in the future. Gordon Lishman, Age Concern Director General, said: "A well-designed fitness park could be a great way to encourage older people to exercise and socialise. Exercising a few times a week can make a big difference to someone's health and it doesn't have to be strenuous." He added, " Many older people aren't exercising enough and we are really keen for local authorities to offer a range of accessible and affordable facilities that promote physical activity in later life."
Northwards Housing paid for the outdoor fitness area and said that it was "delighted" to support the scheme. However it isnt just old people that get to have fun; theres also a childrens play area and a multi-purpose sports pitch located nearby.
Source:
BBC
Sky News
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Author: Leah Bransko
Leah is an expert on home DIY projects including bathroom and kitchen tiling. Minerals Marketing is a supplier of mineral fillers. Playgrounds are made from chelford 52 and kaolin is often used in decorative paints.