There’s nothing like a day at the park. For folks of all ages, it’s a great place for fresh air, exercise, and time with your loved ones. But while parks are open to everyone – if you’re headed to the playground, typically you have a youngster in tow. That is unless you’re visiting Godstone Park in North York, Toronto.
Seniors in the area have been taking advantage of one of the park’s amenities – as it was built just for them. It’s almost like a playground for older adults!
The seniors’ exercise park opened in July of 2019. Residents had been asked to come up with ideas for a community improvement project, then vote for which they liked best. It was named the favorite.
Don’t expect that it’s a playground full of slides and see-saws though. The unique attraction instead offers exercise equipment that’s perfect for seniors.
There are various stations set up at the attraction focusing on different exercises.
From the “Shoulder Stability & Strength” station to one that helps users with squats – the equipment caters to seniors’ needs. At each station is a chart that teaches the patron how to do the exercise, and allows them to choose either beginner, intermediate, or advanced.
Older residents benefit from the playground in many ways – including getting outside.
Park advocate, Shirley Kehimkar, told CityNews Toronto:
“Seniors in the outdoors can blossom … And it’s not about exercise for losing weight – it’s exercise for mobility.”
It’s also a hope that the senior exercise park will encourage socialization and “community interactions.” According to resident, Marisa Reyes, there are many seniors in apartments that “need to get out” more.
The health benefits don’t stop there.
Exercise is good for the mind, body, and soul. Seniors struggling with issues can benefit from the equipment physically, and being outside and socializing is great for the whole-self too.
Pharmacist Vinit Rajan shared that seniors are “the biggest growing population in Canada at the moment” with diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, and depression being concerns. He said that exercise can be helpful in these areas.
At this special playground, seniors can be guided through push-ups, pull-ups, abdominal exercises, and more. There’s even a chair for those who want to engage in rotational work. But in addition to being beneficial, it looks like a place that would be a lot of fun as well!
Residents in the area have been loving the attraction.
Senior playgrounds are popular in China, with other cities like London and Berlin also adopting the idea, according to the BBC. In Toronto, people in the community have been taking advantage of the colorful exercise equipment and the instructional charts.
One user of the facility expressed her satisfaction with it, telling CityNews Toronto:
“Everything is posted here, so it’s great. I find this fantastic! I’m so glad.”
Several viewers have expressed their support on YouTube with positive comments. One person wrote:
“That’s cool and very good concept. City must implement this all over Ontario so seniors can exercise and keep themself healthy.”
Another person commented, “There should be more of these!”
Many of us usually think of a playground as a place for children. However, this idea might have you wanting a senior playground to pop up in your community too.
Press play on the video below to get a closer look at Godstone Park’s brilliant feature!
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