Orchard Park's outdoor gym is fit for global audience
IMAGES of Orchard Park's free-to-use outdoor gym will be beamed into millions of homes across the world.
The Eco Wellness Zone, which cost £55,000, opened in the estate's Shaw Park at Easter.
Now, American news channel CNN is about to broadcast a recorded piece about the benefits of the gym – the first of its kind – to its global audience.
Councillor Terry Geraghty, who helped bring the gym to the estate, said: "I am over the moon.
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"This is very positive for the estate.
"Orchard Park is appearing on television for the right reasons."
The gym is unique because it uses floodlights to enable people to exercise at night.
Users are given a wealth of useful information needed to make healthy lifestyle changes.
A so-called "bod pod", or self-diagnosis booth, tells users how much they weigh, their height and their body mass index, as well as giving guidelines on physical activities.
Mr Geraghty explained the advantages of an outside gym to CNN cameras.
He said: "It's the first of its kind in the world.
"The gym is free and, according to the latest figures, 40 people a day are using it.
"This is going to help people lose weight, which in turn will help tackle diabetes and other medical problems associated with obesity.
"It will help reduce pressure on the NHS. It really is a fantastic piece of equipment."
Mr Geraghty said he has been pleased to see the equipment is being well looked after.
"There has been no vandalism and it is still in great condition," he said. "People are respecting it, which is good to see."
In 2010, Orchard Park was featured on TV for wholly different reasons when Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell made a Channel 4 documentary series about life on the estate.
Mr Geraghty verbally attacked Mr Mitchell at the time of the show, called Tower Block Of Commons.
He said: "Orchard Park has a lot of facilities – a lot more than most estates.
"We have a mini golf course that is being refurbished, several sports pitches, a fabulous park and now a new school."
The Eco Wellness Zone has been paid for out of the council's Orchard Park and Greenwood Community Initiatives budget.
CNN has yet to state when the piece will be broadcast.
Comments
by BorderPatrol1
Sunday, September 09 2012, 10:21AM
“Broken bottles, cans, melted plastic, fag ends, used Johnny's, syringes and intimidating gangs of feral youths.
I'll stick with the gym thanks.”
by AngryAudrey
Sunday, September 09 2012, 7:44AM
“Just about all these two are capable of - need to sort out more important problems with the "orange eyesore"”
by JillUphill
Saturday, September 08 2012, 9:15PM
“Shame they didn't show an interest in the area around the new school but of course the people on Beckside Close don't live in council houses do they.”
by JayOnly
Saturday, September 08 2012, 10:05AM
“I saw these in Istanbul years ago. they get well used too. Good luck to them, I say.
My only concern now would be, when do the scrap metal scumbag theives move in?”
by howson
Saturday, September 08 2012, 9:49AM
“what a load of rubbish been showed around the world, go to Mundlesly in north norfolk they have a outside gym there and it is used”
by RHHullNproud
Saturday, September 08 2012, 9:32AM
“Do the overweight girls getting on buses with their prams travelling two stops know of this?”
by derkoi
Saturday, September 08 2012, 8:24AM
“Another waste of money, this is not Venice beach it's Orchard Park, the only people gathering at this place will be chavs. Anyone else wont want to put themselves through the hassle of trying to use a piece of equipment that half a dozen clowns with the combined IQ of 5 are sat on and that's not even looking at the weather we get in Britain.
People in power need to stop looking at the world through rose tinted glasses.”