In the heart of Chattanooga is a park where many options for outdoor fun and fitness, for any age, exist for visitors to enjoy. Research shows that exercising outdoors has many benefits that may not be realized in an indoor environment. People with greater access to green environments exhibit better well-being and functioning scores in social, physical, and psychological domains.1 In addition, there is research2 showing that outdoor exercise:
- Can prevent certain diseases
- Improves adherence rates to exercise
- Provides greater feelings of revitalization and positive enjoyment
- Decreases tension, confusion, anger, and depression
- Increases energy
- Helps seniors reach higher levels of physical activity
Trails are also a great infrastructure to build opportunities for enhanced exercise. At Warner Park in Chattanooga TN, a series of adult fitness stations were added along a trail at a park where a playground, zoo, Miracle Field ball park, fitness center, and splash park were already drawing family traffic. Joint-use fitness areas, those that are located near a playground, may be a great way to get parents more active while at the playground. Rather than just heading to a bench and sitting while children play, these clusters of fitness equipment provide parents and caregivers with a way to keep an eye on the kids while setting a good example for them through their own exercise. One of the parents interviewed at Warner Park noted, “We come here as a family – the kids go to the zoo or the water park, then we walk the fitness trail – my husband and I use the equipment while our kids play in the grassy areas. It's great fun for all and we leave feeling like we had a great family day.”
So whatever your community goals are, consider expanding the amenities and family-focused activities (or contact us to help ) so people can get a workout in, gather with friends and family, and even meet new friends as they play ball as a team. There’s no denying the research, fitness and play are good at any age, and Warner Park is encouraging this behavior every day!
1 Kuo, F.E., Parks and other green environments: ‘Essential components of a healthy human habitat’. Australasian Parks and Leisure, 2011. 14(1): p. 10.
2 PlayCore, Outdoor Adult Fitness Parks, Best Practices for Promoting Community Health by Increasing Physical Activity. PlayCore 2013 p15-16
