It's a fit hit

Beach Haven's senior outdoor gym is so popular that the council will put similar equipment in other parks, reports Valerie Schuler.
Locals didn't quite know what to make of the colourful fitness equipment when it popped up at Shepherds Park in Beach Haven earlier this year. Brightly painted in red and yellow, the fitness trail looked like a giant playground.
"I came down to the park one day and there it was - I think some people were a little shy of using it at first,'' says 50-year-old Zoe Vucich, a regular user of the outdoor gym since its installation in May.
"Shepherds Park is a wonderful community meeting place for people of all ages and the fitness equipment has further enhanced this.''
As The Aucklander reported, the equipment was intended as a senior fitness trail, designed especially to tempt people aged 60-plus off their couches and into their trainers. But people of all ages are using it.
The shoulder press, air walker, leg press and crosstrainer have become so popular that the Birkenhead-Northcote Community Board is installing similar equipment at other parks to keep up with demand.
There are plans for two more pieces at the existing Shepherds Park trail. Five pieces will go up at Greenslade Reserve, across the road from the Northcote Shopping Centre and pensioner housing. Another three fitness machines are planned for Cadness Reserve in Northcote.
"The equipment has been very popular with a number of groups because it is free, accessible and effective. It's also proved to be quite social, as some of it requires two people to work it,'' says council parks officer Bob Wallace.
"We've also had positive feedback from parents, for whom the equipment provides an active way to pass time while waiting for their children's sports practice to finish." The equipment will cost about $54,400 to install and should be ready to use within the next six months.
Community coordinator Jill Nerheny, who was pivotal in setting up the Shepherds Park trail and who personally tested the equipment with seniors, is thrilled the trail is expanding.
"I think what's working is the location. There are footpaths and people don't have to trudge through lots of wet grass if it's raining.''
Mrs Nerheny would like to see benches put in at Shepherds Park where people could sit and rest or stretch between exercises.
The community board will discuss this at its next meeting.