Exercise equipment stations to debut June 4
CRANBERRY TWP — Residents here will soon have the chance to use exercise equipment in two of the township’s parks, and officials Friday afternoon gave a first glimpse of what that equipment will look like.
The project is the Cranberry Township Community Chest’s 2014 Project of the Year and will be unveiled during a ceremony June 4 in Graham Park.
Pete Geis, the township’s director of parks and recreation, stood next to one of the four exercise pads and watched as local fitness instructors demonstrated how to use them.
Geis said there will be four pads in total, while each pad will have about 10 different pieces of exercise equipment. The pads will be available for use year-round for anyone wishing to use them.
Three of the pads will be in Graham Park while the fourth will be in North Boundary Park. Each of the pads is strategically located next to ball fields to allow parents the chance to get in a workout after dropping off their kids.
“They can drop the kids off and come over here and get in a quick workout,” Geis said.
Geis said almost all of the exercise equipment is handicap accessible, while each piece of equipment will have a bar code on it that can be scanned. Once scanned into a smart phone or other device, the bar code will link users to an instructional video on how to use the equipment.
The exercise pads will be cordoned off with tape until they are officially unveiled on June 4. Lorin Meeder, the township’s environmental programs coordinator, said he’s still in the process of overseeing the installation of the other exercise pads.
“We’re in the process of putting the final touches on everything,” he said.
Township officials added that the exercise pads are the first of their kind in the area and that they expect them to get good use by the thousands of people who visit Cranberry’s parks on a weekly basis.
Those officials also are planning fitness programs for the equipment that will run in the spring, summer and fall. If they desire, township residents will even be able to use the equipment in winter because the township’s public works department will be tasked with cleaning them of ice and snow.
Persons of all ages and abilities will be able to use the equipment, although minors must be accompanied and supervised by adults.
Financing for the project came from the Community Chest as well as donations from residents and local businesses.
In an effort to familiarize residents with the equipment, the township will offer four hourlong instructional classes in June.
The grand opening for the exercise equipment will be held at 6:30 p.m. June 4 in Graham Park.
