Galway gym bunnies will be able to take their exercise routines outdoors in the future after the county got its first outdoor gym. The new outdoor gym which is the first of its kind in a public park in the county, is located in Rinville Park on the shores of Galway Bay. It is positioned alongside the tarmacadam walkway in the park and hopes to provide fitness and walking enthusiasts with an easily accessible and gentle exercise opportunity as they make their way through the park.
The outdoor gym is made up of eight exercise machines, which are set on a tarmacadam surface and will offer users the opportunity to avail of eleven different exercises targeting specific areas of the body. Each machine has an information plate attached outlining how the exercise is performed and the specific muscle areas of the body that the exercise is targeting. A trained gym instructor was on site at the official launch to give those attending the opportunity to see how to best use the new outdoor gym equipment.
Outdoor gyms have recently become popular in Ireland and have been installed in parks and alongside walkways in a number of counties. These outdoor training facilities give visitors the opportunity to work-out free of charge in a safe outdoor scenic setting. Galway County Council plan on launching a similar outdoor facility in the Loughrea area. The project was funded by Galway County Council with the benefit of financial assistance from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sports.
Rinville Park in Oranmore is jointly owned by Galway County Council and Galway City Council and consists of approximately 100 acres of parkland. It boasts and extensive path system, which provides up to six miles of walks through woodlans, open farmland and by the seaside, with scenic views of Galway Bay. The old walled orchard has been transformed into a children’s playground, which has various types of equipment to suit children up to to 12 years of age. There is also a barbecue area for visitors, which is sheltered by the adjoining woodland near the old Courtyyard.
