Outdoor fitness space coming to Ruskin Park

A new outdoor fitness space is coming to Ruskin Park in the next few months.

The Co-op are funding anti-knife crime charity Steel Warriors to build 20 free-to-use gyms using recycled steel from knives that have been taken off the street.

What is the outdoor gym and how will it be used?

The exercise space is designed for a fitness technique called calisthenics, which uses bodyweight for resistance through pulling, pushing, bending, jumping or swinging actions.

The gym will be free-to-use for people of all ages. Steel Warriors also have funding from the Co-op to have a trainer running free exercise sessions for different abilities every week.

How does this fit with other plans for the park?

We recently started working with Lambeth Council and local architects Campbell Cadey to plan for future improvements to the park. Their research – including consultation at the Ruskin Park Summer Fete – indicated there is a high demand for outdoor fitness equipment from park users. Steel Warriors will build the gym at no cost to the park budget.

Where will this exercise space be located?

The gym will be between the main part of the park and the playing fields, an area that many park users already use for informal exercise.

Campbell Cadey have created a visualisation of the gym in this location, shown below. An advantage of this location is that it doesn’t restrict any future plans for the north-west corner of the park such as expanded play facilities.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about this project please contact Steel Warriors at team@steelwarriors.co.uk or Lambeth Council at parks@lambeth.gov.uk or 020 7926 9000.

The Friends of Ruskin Park will aim to provide updates on the project as we hear more.