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Outdoor Workout Equipment Debuts at Veteran's Park

Macomb residents looking to flex their muscles can get a workout out at Veteran's Park.  About a half  dozen new workout machines were installed next to the park's playground. 

Park District Director Rachel Lenz said there’s no expensive gym membership required to use the equipment, which is designed for people ages 14 and older.

Credit Tri States Public Radio
Several of the pieces of equipment are handicap accessible

Lenz said each piece of equipment has instructions on it making it suitable for beginner, intermediate, or expert fitness levels.  She said they’re designed to provide a full body workout using a person's body weight as resistance.

“Although they’re built in a circuit, you’re by no means required to follow that. We’ve had people who will come and maybe they’re working on legs or arm strength. They’ll do those exercises and then go back to the walking trail,” Lenz said.

Lenz told Tri States Public Radio the walking trail on the north side of the Veteran’s Park also features new workout equipment.

There are six signs along the QR Fit Trail that runs around the adult soccer fields. Users with smart phones can scan the QR codes on them and receive a customized series of stationary exercises to complete at that location before hopping back onto the walking path.

Credit Tri States Public Radio

“If you scan the QR code, it will give you an introduction video as to how to utilize the trail, what different fitness levels you can engage in. There’s several different types of fitness you can do: upper body, lower body, core, and flexibility,” Lenz said.

Lenz said the company they’re working with creates new videos monthly to keep the workouts fresh. She said the company reports that last month Macomb had the third highest number of users of the service in the country.

Lenz said she was inspired to add the outdoor workout equipment to the park after seeing a similar set up in a Chicago park. She said she hopes it encourages more people to go outside and enjoy Veteran's Park. Lenz told Tri States Public Radio that the Macomb Park District hopes to add similar fitness equipment to Patton Park on the southwest side of town. 

Emily Boyer is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.