Kincardine resident calls on municipality to provide a Green Gym
To the Editor:
RE: “Bruce Power puts $300,000 into trails; mental and physical health programs”
While it’s great that Bruce Power is putting money and a focus on outdoor recreation, I would still like to see a Green Gym in the Municipality of Kincardine.
This is outdoor fitness equipment for anyone to use, no matter what economic level or abilities you may have. More and more communities have them. They are a great way for any adult or teenager to exercise for free outside.
In Manitoulin, Green Gyms are near a beach alongside a children’s playground. I have seen many seniors using them, but in Mexico, I saw many people using them at different times of the day. It is a great idea and I am surprised there are not any around the Huron-Bruce area.
It would be a great project for Bruce Power and the Kincardine Lions Club to build together.
At present, seniors in Kincardine have no outside activities they can do. During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, our group of Pickleball players created our own outside Pickleball courts. The Davidson Centre staff did allow us to use one of its portable nets for the summer, and some of the players are still playing outside when it is nice weather. Many are too worried about COVID-19 to go inside.
We do have a couple of gyms in Kincardine but they are either expensive or with a focus more for young people. I was a member of the Davidson Centre gym but I am too nervous to go inside yet because I am in a vulnerable group.
A Green Gym would be a great addition for everyone, including seniors, but it could also be used by tourists and teens. It is built for outdoors and can be used in any weather, just like the climbers and some of the metal or steel equipment in the children’s playground. It is likely safer than some of the equipment the children play on because they are close to the ground.
The Green Gyms are not made for heavy-duty work-outs. They are more for movement and toning. I am on a pension (not a Bruce Power pension) and I have to watch where and when I spend money. I would love to walk along the boardwalk and go and play at the gym for a few minutes and visit safely with people.
There are lots of families that walk the boardwalks on both sides of the piers and it is a way of visiting. Include a Green Gym in the walks and you have a whole body work-out from the 30 minutes of walking to some stretches and pull-downs from the gym.
During the pandemic, it would have made a big difference for those seniors feeling isolated. I know the young people feel comfortable being back indoors at the gym, but I am not there yet. I am still spending a lot of time by myself and my fitness level is not what is was last year.
Let's hope that before I am too old, we will get to use a Green Gym here in Kincardine.
Vy Waller
Kincardine
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