Case studies in a park with playground and outdoor fitness gym

An Outdoor Gym Designed to Engage People of All Ages

and Abilities
Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park is a 231-acre Los Angeles City Park serving Wilmington and Harbor City areas
as well as the South Bay region of California.  The park today is an amazing transformation from what it was 20
years ago, as it had become run down, faced pollution issues, and was not considered a family-friendly
destination. When the park decided to add fitness to the park, they knew that a multigenerational space was needed
to help ensure that local families found the exercise options meaningful. They wanted to ensure that, while the
fitness area would be designed for adults, that there was a family friendly area as well, so parents didn't have to
worry about finding a caregiver to watch their children when they wanted to work out. They also wanted to be sure
that the space made sense for athletes at all levels of fitness, from beginners to competitive level. With funding
from Kaiser Permanente in place, the team worked with GameTime to fulfill their vision of a fitness and play area
for people of all abilities. The resulting area is a model fitness environment, as well as a PlayCore National
Demonstration site for fitness.

Active Space Case Study | Tucker Family Park

Active spaces are the beating heart of communities and provide the necessary foundations for economic, social and
physical growth.  The developers of Tucker Family Park in Brentwood Forest recognised this and set out to create
a space that would play a major role in attracting families to the development.The recreational space cascades
down in a series of levels offering thrilling play activities for all ages and a fitness park where parents can work out
while their kids play. Boasting a brightly coloured, 9m high, custom-designed cube tower and a humongous 18m
slide this park is set to be a huge drawing card for the area. Featuring advanced, digitally-integrative fitness
equipment from industry leaders Kompan, Tucker Park will motivate all fitness levels to get moving. An obstacle
course, chest press, fitness bike and cross trainer allows local residents to enjoy the outdoors while exercising alone
or in groups.  A double mega-tower enhances little adventurer’s social, physical and emotional development with
interactive play panels, a slide and rope bridge. The park also features other play elements such as three swings, a
seesaw, multi-spinner and elephant springer. “It’s brought the whole community together. We’ve got fantastic
feedback to all the different uses within the park and it’s been a fantastic gathering place for the whole
community.”Peter Macleod, Development Manager, Avid Property Group

A Young Child’s Perspectives on Outdoor Play: A Case Study from Vancouver, British Columbia
 In the past two decades there has been an increasing amount of concern about the lack of direct exposure that
young children have to nature and the outdoors in Canada and the United States (Rosenow & Bailie, 2014). In
response, many early years child care centers (such as “Hand-In-Hand Early Years Nature Education Program
Comox Valley,” n.d.) and some Kindergartens (for example, Nature Kindergarten 2012-2013, 2013) in British
Columbia have turned to nature-based and outdoor-learning models. In general, this type of nature-based or
outdoor-learning can be thought of as the Forest School approach (Den Hoed, 2014). The underlying assumption at
work is that direct exposure to nature is good for children. A recent review of the literature (Gill, 2014) supports
this view: the review found that children under the age of 12, who engage directly with nature regularly, experience
improved physical, emotional, and mental health; greater well-being; increased cognition; superior social skills;
and are more likely to feel concern for the environment and connectedness to nature (Gill, 2014). Gill’s (2014)
literature review was based on 61 research articles, whose quality ranged from ‘unclear’ to ‘good.’ Based on my
reading of the titles of these research articles, only five of the 61 articles considered children’s perspectives,
preferences, or perceptions (Gill, 2014).

Outdoor fitness equipment in parks: From older

adults’ perceptions

In response to worldwide aging populations [1, 2], many efforts have attempted to improve the health and quality
of life of older adults [3, 4] such as “active aging” promoted by the World Health Origination to increase physical
activity among seniors [5]. A plethora of research has proven that regular physical activity contributes both
positive and preventive factors for maintaining health in older adults [4] including physiology [6–10], psychology
[11] and cognitive benefits [12, 13]. Despite scientific evidence, the number of older adults participating regularly
in physical activities remains low in many countries [14–16].

Recently, the socio-ecological model has attempted to explain behavior related to physical-activity among general
populations. Marcus and Forsyth [17] indicated that environmental designs and policies are much more effective
than programs in terms of sustainability and reaching populations to influence the public’s level of physical
activity. Therefore, knowing how to improve the environment to encourage seniors to participate in physical
activities is essential.

Since parks’ locations, usually in nearby neighborhoods, are either free or low-cost to visitors, and are accessible,
recognition of parks’ importance as settings for physical activities has increased among those with interest for
encouraging health [18–23]. Parks, widely used by a surrounding community, are particular favorites of older
adults who have limited mobility [24].
Factors influencing older adults’ visits to parks include accessibility [19], perceptions of safety [25], presence of
facilities [26], park size [27], things to watch [26], events to attend [25], and maintenance [25, 26]. However,
studies also show that despite frequently visiting parks, older adults, more so than younger visitors, usually engage
in more sedentary activities, such as chatting with friends, sitting and resting, or watching others [28, 29].
Kaczynski [27] observed 33 parks in Canada and found that use of parks for physical activities is more likely at
those with more features/facilities, while factors such as size, distance, and amenities were not significantly
predictive. Few studies, however, have investigated how specific features in a park affect seniors’ physical activity.

Village revival
This scenario covers a village developing
initiatives to preserve and build on its local
character.
With changes in traditional agricultural practices,
many villages suffer from either development
pressure or loss of population. Often political
control is exercised many miles away and local
people feel powerless to do anything about it.
In this scenario parish mapping is used to
generate interest and understanding. Villagers
then decide to develop a local design statement
to guide new development and a countryside
design summary is prepared to make better links
with the character of the surrounding region.
Finally, with the experience of learning to work
together, a number of project groups are
established to develop new facilities.
 Methods:
Community profiling.
Local design statement.
Mapping. Photo
survey. Review session.
FURTHER INFORMATION
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THE COMMUNITY PLANNING HANDBOOK 161

SCENARIOS V
A village community takes steps to protect the traditional

character and develop new facilities. Village revival

Community profiling p42

Parish mapping p76 or other methods used to
generate information and interest.

Local design statement p74

Produced using mapping p76 and photo
surveys p94. Statement adopted by authorities.

Countryside design summary

Produced by regional authorities. Glossary
Review session p110
To determine future initiatives needed.

Project groups
Established to pursue further initiatives including
a community centre and transport initiative.

Local design statement revised

Community planning forum p40
Evening session in a local hall with exhibition of
parish maps to discuss next steps. Decision to
produce a local design statement.
Steering group formed.

months
0

12

15
18

21
Inner city regeneration
This scenario shows how a deprived inner city
area can transform itself over a period of almost
a decade.
Starting by tenants gaining control of the
management of their housing, a series of
initiatives are taken as local people and their
advisors become increasingly confident and
competent in managing the regeneration process
and forming partnerships. These include an
improvement programme for existing housing
estates, new housing development on infill sites,
landscaping of open spaces, community arts and
youth projects and, finally, the development of a
community masterplan for attracting the private
sector to invest in new housing, leisure and
commercial projects, so leading to the creation of
a balanced and sustainable community or ‘urban
village’.

 Methods:
Action planning event.
Art workshop.
Choice catalogue.
Design game.
Development trust.
Neighbourhood
planning office.
Planning day.
Planning for Real.
Review session.
9 Dick Watson.
FURTHER INFORMATION
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THE COMMUNITY PLANNING HANDBOOK 145

SCENARIOS I
Rejuvenation of a deprived inner city area dominated by
blocks of local authority flats and lacking amenities. Inner city
regeneration

Tenant management organisation formed

Authority hands over management of flats to
tenants. Tenants appoint community architect.

Housing estate improvement programme

Scheme developed using Planning for Real
p100 and choice catalogues p36.
New housing
Designed and built by a local housing association
after a planning day p98.

Open space projects

Devised by special projects committee using
design games p48.

Community arts and young people’s projects

Using arts workshops p30 and projects in schools.
Neighbourhood planning office opened p84
For tenant committees and consultants.

months
0
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
33
36
39
42
45
48
51
54
57
60
63
66
69
72
75
78
81
84
87
90
93
96
99

x
x
x

x
Action planning event p24
To take stock and produce a strategy for future
action. With outsider and local design assistance
team members. Lasting several days.

Masterplan
Drawn up by development partnership and local
24

27

30

33

36

39
Derelict site re-use
This scenario shows an initiative to make use of a
derelict area of land in public ownership. Such
land exists everywhere, usually attracting rubbish
and having a depressing effect on the local
neighbourhood.
Often, sites are left vacant for many years.
Alternatively, local authorities may carry out
some landscaping or sell the land to the private
sector for development.
The scenario here shows how a popular use for
the site can be generated and implemented,
starting off with an ideas competition.
The initiative can be taken by anyone; a local
authority, regeneration agency, community group
individual or urban design studio at a school of
architecture or planning.

 Methods:
Art workshop.
Ideas competition.
Open house event.
Street stall.
Urban design studio.
FURTHER INFORMATION
CPH pages 130-163 10/7/06 14:09 Page 134
THE COMMUNITY PLANNING HANDBOOK 135
SCENARIOS D
An initiative to make use of a derelict urban site in public
ownership. Timescale assumes relatively simple option adopted
such as a pocket park. A building would take longer to construct.

Derelict site re-use

Research
Initiators find out history, ownership, planning
position and other background information.

Ideas competition p70

For best ideas for improving the site. Open to all.
Public exhibition and judging of proposals.

Development partnership
Formed to implement project. Might include local
authority, funders, local amenity groups, site
neighbours. Appoint architects and artists to
draw up proposals based on the winning scheme.

Art workshops p34

To design and make any works of art.
Open house or street stall p88 and 118
To keep people informed and get their views for
further improvement. Secure funding.
Public meeting or forum
To launch initiative, find out further information,
and establish steering group.

months
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

x
x

x
Implementation
Perhaps using self-build input from local people
on all or parts or the scheme. Opening ceremony.

Management body established

Mainly comprising users of the facility.

42
x
x

Local neighbourhood
initiative
This scenario applies to any area where there are
a number of institutional landowners and
agencies operating and where local people want
to break through inertia and improve the
environment and quality of life.
So often the difficulty is getting all the various
landowners and agencies to agree on a
development strategy that is both visionary and
based on what local people want. Without such
agreement, development takes place in a
mundane and piecemeal fashion, if at all, the
most important local needs may not be addressed
and opportunities offered by the natural
environment are missed. At worst, new initiatives
may be destroyed by vandalism and crime.
The scenario shown here ensures that local
people start off and remain at the centre of the
regeneration process but that all the agencies
and land owners are also involved and can play
their part.

 Methods:
Planning weekend.
Process planning
session.
Neighbourhood
planning office.
Open space workshop.
User group.
FURTHER INFORMATION
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THE COMMUNITY PLANNING HANDBOOK 147

SCENARIOS L

Local neighbourhood
initiative
Process planning session p106
or open space workshop p90
Evening session organised for local groups and
agencies in local venue. Workshop session results
in choice of process for the next step (planning
weekend in this scenario).
Local people in a rundown neighbourhood and
agencies working with them take the initiative
to speed up the regeneration process.

Steering Group
All stakeholders invited to participate. Regular
meetings. Working groups established (eg
publicity, fundraising). Funding secured for event.

Planning weekend p102

Programme of action determined including
setting up a development forum.

Development forum
Develops and publicises action plan.

Neighbourhood planning office p84

Local office established in an empty shop.
Review session p110
Planning weekend team revisits one year after event.

Development trust p52

Trust established to coordinate programme.

Derelict site re-use

This scenario shows an initiative to make use of a
derelict area of land in public ownership. Such
land exists everywhere, usually attracting rubbish
and having a depressing effect on the local
neighbourhood.
Often, sites are left vacant for many years.
Alternatively, local authorities may carry out
some landscaping or sell the land to the private
sector for development.
The scenario here shows how a popular use for
the site can be generated and implemented,
starting off with an ideas competition.
The initiative can be taken by anyone; a local
authority, regeneration agency, community group
individual or urban design studio at a school of
architecture or planning.