outdoor gym planning
How to plan an outdoor fitness site
6 steps for outdoor gym planning
Outdoor gyms have become a global trend, and for good reason. To help you plan the best outdoor fitness site, we have created a step-by-step checklist that will prompt your thinking process and guide you in the right direction on building a fitness site that users want to use and return to.
Here are six things to consider when planning a public outdoor activity area:
Users and Target Audience
Choosing a Location
Site Design
Type of Commercial Fitness Equipment
Maintenance and support options
Budget
Much like planning a playground, outlining an outdoor gym takes thorough planning. When planning, the parties involved decide upon users, design, the purpose of the fitness site, equipment type, support options and maintenance. A thorough planning checklist is the best starting point when planning a public outdoor fitness gym.
Step 1. Users and target audience
Knowing your target audience and the user group is imperative when planning your outdoor fitness station. Many outdoor fitness parks are created for the fit and young without considering the entire community. To gain genuine health benefits in your community, you need to consider the following members of your community, too:
The inactive
People with diseases or disabilities
Seniors
All genders
Everyone benefits from outdoor exercise and being active. User consideration is one of the most essential factors when designing an outdoor gym, as your chosen target audience impacts the choice of location and site design.
Step 2. Choosing a location
How to build an outdoor gym is also dependent on location. Make sure to spend time researching your designated location. Here are some of our guidelines when choosing the perfect place
The best place to build your new public outdoor gym park is within walking distance of:
Car parks
Commercial areas
Public transport
Bicycle parking
Adequate lighting
Providing a wheelchair-friendly space with a seamless transfer ensures accessibility for users of all ages and abilities. You may have the perfect location for your project in an urban area, and that is fine; make sure to add green elements or fixtures nearby your site. The positive effect of green spaces is a scientific fact substantiated by research within the Fitness Industry*.
*Source: Urban Green Spaces and Health
Designing the perfect outdoor fitness space can be challenging. Our fitness guide helps you pick the right solution.
Find your ultimate fitness solution with KOMPAN's fitness guide
Step 3. Site design
Once you have your target audience and site location, the outdoor gym design process begins. This step is where you consider the layout of your fitness park. We highly recommend that you focus on explicit routing and zoning, enabling easy manoeuvring around the facility. Place your zones together in one place rather than scattered around the park. Relocating to another zone in a different corner of the park to do a part of your exercise routine is inefficient—one site, one main attraction.
The size of space and budget go hand in hand. Still, you cannot always accommodate everyone, and sometimes lowering your ambition is the key to a successful fitness site, e.g., focusing on one activity or user group.
Our fitness experts are here to help and guide you with the site design and the type of equipment needed to outfit your project.
Step 4. Purpose and type of commercial fitness equipment
Next is choosing the right exercise equipment for your intended space and users. Consider these three main categories of fitness equipment according to your specific purpose:
Youth / fit adults
Fitness for all abilities
Seniors / rehabilitating adults
A popular option to cater for various age groups is a calisthenics park - for which we have provided a dedicated planning guide.
1. Fitness for the young and fit
Accommodating for the younger fit generation, you may consider bars and benches and bodyweight-focused equipment designed to support a wide range of exercises such as pull-ups, triceps dips or calisthenics.
Currently, KOMPAN is the only supplier with adjustable fitness equipment that matches indoor fitness equipment's quality and functionality.
2. Fitness for all abilities
If you decide to design a commercial space that accommodates fitness for all ages and abilities, adjustable cardio fitness equipment with scaling and adjustable resistance, and selectorised strength is the way to move forward. In this case, focus on body type and skills-neutral equipment that help users exercise at their level. This type of equipment fits multiple users of all sizes and abilities with ergonomic multi-handles and an adaptive design in which the product guides the activity.
3. Fitness for seniors
A more commercial senior-specific fitness zone should focus on balance, mobility, and functional strength exercises, as these are the best fall-preventing exercises. The best practice for preventing lifestyle diseases combines cardio training, strength, and fall-preventing exercises, preferably performed in motivating surroundings and groups with like-minded persons. The purpose of your commercial outdoor fitness site ultimately changes according to the user group. A hospital, for instance, has a different purpose, such as rehabilitation for its outdoor fitness site.
Get more information on how to design a Senior Park here.
Step 5. Maintenance and support options
KOMPAN outdoor fitness equipment's quality is comparable to indoor fitness equipment. The equipment is made from powder-coated galvanized steel; the galvanized finish enables weather and rust resistance allowing for outdoor use all year round in all types of weather and is almost maintenance-free.
The KOMPAN outdoor fitness equipment is not only fully comparable with indoor fitness equipment but arguably much better. Due to sturdy steel construction with thick welding and enforced bolts and knots, it's explicitly made for heavy use and to withstand harsh conditions. We recommend yearly inspections to ensure the equipment is safe, but all equipment holds a 10-year maintenance standard.
Support options At KOMPAN, we are here to help you in the planning phase and the start-up of your finished outdoor fitness site. Please get in touch with your local sales rep for more information.
Step 6. Budget
Everyone can place fitness equipment in an outdoor activity area. Making the site attractive is the key to a successful site. The more attractive a site, the larger budget. At KOMPAN, we deliver fitness sites for any budget; however, we believe an outdoor fitness park is an investment, and that budget and value go hand in hand. We also believe a large investment is worthwhile, especially if you wish to create a space for a large group of users.
'What is the cost of outdoor gym equipment?" is a common question - well, your budget should account for a myriad of factors, including the actual installation. Don't hesitate to contact your local KOMPAN sales office for more information on the installation process or how to source additional funds for your outdoor projects with playground grants and funding.
Case study: Stuy Town Fitness Park
Want more advice on planning outdoor fitness sites?
Please fill in your contact details and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an outdoor gym?
A KOMPAN outdoor gym is the same as an indoor gym. That means the fitness equipment in an ordinary fitness centre is adapted for permanent outdoor use. KOMPAN Fitness equipment is made from powder-coated galvanised steel, which ensures durability and longevity in all weather conditions.
What to consider when planning an outdoor gym?
The most important factors to consider when figuring out how to build and plan an outdoor gym are user group, location, and site design. Find more inspiration at the top of this page.
How to build an outdoor gym
When you are ready to take action in terms of planning, please contact the local KOMPAN sales office for help and guidance and start learning about the different steps of building and installing an outdoor gym.