Ribbon cut this week on Wick Park fitness stations
Three new outdoor fitness stations in Wick Park, installed as part of a partnership that included Youngstown State University, will be dedicated at a ceremonial ribbon-cutting 11 a.m. Thursday, April 6.
The event, which will be at the Fifth Avenue fitness station (across from Ohio Living Park Vista), is sponsored by the City of Youngstown Parks Department in partnership with Youngstown CityScape and YSU Campus Recreation.
“Wick Park is an ideal site for these new outdoor fitness equipment stations,” said Bob Burke, director of the city’s Parks Department, “and we could not have completed this project without our partners, YSU, the Western Reserve Health Foundation/Community Foundation and Youngstown CityScape.”
In fall 2015, Youngstown CityScape received funding from the Western Reserve Health Foundation to replace the deteriorated, wooden, 35-year-old outdoor fitness equipment located throughout the park just north of the YSU campus.
Equipment was selected after research and discussions with the YSU departments of Campus Recreation and Housing & Residence Life, the city and stakeholders around the park. The research included assessing the needs of current and potential users, including YSU, Ohio Living Park Vista Community, Ursuline High School, Beatitude House and North Side neighborhood organizations.
YSU Campus Recreation and Housing & Residence Life agreed to provide significant additional funding, more than doubling the resources available for equipment and surfacing.
In the end, the partners selected Game Time Fitness Equipment, a leading manufacturer of playground and outdoor fitness equipment. Installation was completed earlier this month. The project provides new, laminated fitness-focused equipment. The new equipment offers a way to work on cardio, stretching, balance, and mobility. All stations have a high-density, poured rubber surface for the grounding, meeting all American Society for Testing and Materials guidelines.
Campus Recreation will conduct organized training and fitness classes incorporating the exercise equipment.
For more information, contact Michael McGiffin, Downtown Events and Citywide Special Projects, at 330-207-0551.