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The city of Fairborn Parks and Recreation Department plans to add an outdoor fitness area to its largest park — a project that will be completed this summer, officials said.
Nearly 10 pieces of outdoor exercise equipment will be installed at Community Park, 691 E. Dayton Yellow Springs Road, that will cost approximately $20,000. The project will be paid for with donations.
The fitness area replaces the wooden pieces of equipment that were along the two-mile paved pathway.
“We’re trying to stimulate more outdoor activities and create healthy lifestyles,” City Manager Deborah McDonnell said. “It’s just one more fun thing to do with families. It encourages more use of the park and to be outside and get some exercise.”
Community Park is 206.5 acres, and features fishing, shelters, trails, playgrounds, softball and soccer fields, and basketball, tennis and volleyball courts.
The fitness area will be arranged to resemble a circuit training facility. It will be near the tennis courts where the pool previously was located.
Construction will begin in June, according to Alicia Eckhart, the city’s parks and recreation superintendent.
Equipment will be similar to that found in an indoor gym, including bench press, rowing and elliptical machines, as well as adaptive pieces for those who are physically challenged, Eckhart said.
There will be at least nine pieces of equipment.
“We look for it to be a great element added back to the community, to truly have some professional equipment free to anyone who wants to use it,” Eckhart said. “Park users come out to get some type of movement and do something. By having an outdoor fitness area, they’re not stuck in a home gym or a paid gym membership.”
Eckhart said the Fairborn Parks Foundation and the Fairborn Park Advisory Board voted to allocate nearly $20,000 from their donated funds to pay for the project.
A large portion of the funds came from a 2014 bequeath provided by the Allen Combs estate, which donated more than $10,000 to the Fairborn parks.
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