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Fitness equipment for seniors coming to Crescent Park

This proposed equipment is similar to the gear installed along the Spring Creek pathway between Ninth Avenue Northwest and Thatcher Drive West

Instead of sitting and watching their grandchildren play at the Crescent Park spray pad, seniors will soon have the option to use fitness equipment to stay active as well.

At least four pieces of equipment — a stationary bike, pull-up bars, an arm bike, and a set of stairs for step-ups — could be installed adjacent to the spray pad as early as next spring, after the committee for the 2018 Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association 55-plus Provincial Summer Games presented a cheque worth $8,819.86 to the City of Moose Jaw’s parks and recreation department on June 20. 

This proposed equipment is similar to the gear installed along the Spring Creek pathway between Ninth Avenue Northwest and Thatcher Drive West. 

One aspect of the provincial senior summer games is to leave behind a legacy project, explained Crystal Froese, committee chairwoman. The project is meant to inspire seniors to continue to be more active.

While searching for a legacy project, the committee thought Crescent Park would be a good location since there are more than a dozen seniors’ apartments surrounding the park, she continued. Committee members also though it would be positive to provide outdoor equipment for this age demographic. 

“Seniors can come and bring their grandkids, and as they’re playing on all the fun equipment here, can also do a little bit of (exercising),” said Froese. “Or even seniors who are taking their daily walk through the park can stop here and utilize this equipment and be outside and enjoy the fresh air.”  

With a laugh, Froese noted the equipment in the catalogue looks colourful and could be plenty of fun to use. Even little children will probably use the fitness gear.

The money the committee presented to the parks and recreation department came from participants’ entry fees and funding from sponsors, less the expenses from organizing the event. 

“Our committee is really excited about (presenting) this (cheque), absolutely,” said Froese, adding there were more than 20 people on the committee and more than 100 volunteers who contributed their time. 

The seniors’ games went well overall, as hundreds of athletes from across the province took part, added Froese. She thought it was exciting to showcase the city of Moose Jaw to the rest of Saskatchewan. 

Fitness is increasing in popularity and there is plenty of equipment out there, said Scott Osmachenko, recreation services manager. However, the department wanted to focus on equipment that seniors could use —  such as a stationary arm bike — while watching their grandchildren play, versus simply sitting on a park bench.

“We did look at what’s popular at Spring Creek … there is quite a bit of fitness equipment there,” he said. 

Osmanchenko said it was fantastic to receive the donation, since the department was thrilled to work with the committee last year. Nearly every municipal recreation building was used for the games, while the community experienced the benefits of the athletic competitions. 

The parks and rec department is pursuing other grant funding as it relates to seniors, which could double the value of the cheque the summer games committee donated. 

“Our goal is to maximize this as much as possible,” Osmanchenko added. 

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