A new £120,000 fitness area has opened at Sandwell Valley Country Park in West Bromwich – the largest free outdoor gym in the country. The gym, which is free to use and open every day of the year, was opened Sandwell Mayor Councillor Barbara Price. The 40 items of equipment – backed by the council's public health team and supplied by Wicksteed Leisure Ltd – are aimed at anyone aged 14 and over, from the complete novice right through to the experienced athlete.
The QR code on each piece of equipment provides users with a video on their smartphone that gives them their own 'personal trainer'.
Councillor Maria Crompton, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for highways and environment, said: "The gym facility is completely free of charge and open to use every day of the year and is a wonderful facility for those who want to improve their levels of fitness and health.
"This is an exciting new introduction and is part of our propsals to continually raise the profile of the park and ensure it is highly valued by local people.
"We consider this project to be quite distinctive from others through its size and location and it will make a significant contribution to people's health."
The equipment joins the other 150 pieces of gym equipment already installed across Sandwell's parks and green spaces.
