AN OUTDOOR gym, two running circuits and picnic benches have been unveiled at Chester’s Westminster Park.
The £53,000 Fields in Trust project was funded by Cheshire West and Chester Council and WREN.
WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants to community, environmental and heritage projects across the UK from funds donated by Waste Recycling Group, (WRG) as part of a voluntary environmental tax credit scheme called the Landfill Communities Fund.
Fields in Trust is the only national charity whose core mission is to protect and safeguard outdoor recreational space for future generations to enjoy.
The outdoor gym project links to their legacy programme, the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge led by the Duke of Cambridge, which aims to protect 2,012 outdoor playing fields and parks by the end of 2012.
Cllr Stuart Parker, executive member for culture and recreation said: “Residents and park users chose their preferred outdoor gym equipment earlier this year.
“The finished project has proved enormously popular with everyone and the council has received many positive comments.”
Richard Smith, grant manager at WREN, added: “Westminster Park is an excellent resource for the local community and a number of improvements to the play area and multi-use games area have been funded by WREN in recent years.
“The outdoor gym is in a great location and really compliments the existing facilities. It also provides something for all ages to enjoy and is proving to be extremely popular.”
Alison Moore-Gwyn, chief executive of Fields in Trust, said: “Outdoor gyms are a great way for everyone to reap the rewards of improved physical and mental health.”
