Weiser city gives initial approval for outdoor gym project

Weiser city leaders recently approved a preliminary plan to install new outdoor exercise equipment at City Park once the details have been worked out.
 Weiser Memorial Hospital and the hospital’s foundation are raising the funds for the project. The goal is to provide the public with the fitness equipment to use and hopefully encourage a healthy lifestyle, said Kasey Brock, community health education coordinator.
 Brock provided the city council with details on the scope and cost of the outdoor gym project and proposed that the exercise equipment be permanently located in City Park, where it would be easily accessible to the public and likely see the most usage.
 She came up with the goal of buying the gym equipment in 2019 as a way to promote exercise and make it accessible. The hospital did a community health needs assessment that identified physical inactivity and obesity as two leading health issues that need to be addressed.
 “We see high numbers in these areas in Washington County and they are major contributing factors for some of our most prevalent chronic conditions and causes of death,” Brock said.
 The outdoor gym project will include six double-sided pieces of workout equipment – a leg press, tower, cross country skier, chest press, lateral pull-down and a fit rider machine. The equipment will provide users with the opportunity to complete a whole body workout.
 The exercise equipment is durable, designed for the weather and low maintenance. It’s a receational amenity that will be easily accessible to the public and adds value to the park. Other cities in Idaho have had similar equipment in place in parks for a decade with no issues, she said.
 “It shows our community that we place a value on health,” Brock said.
 The exact location of where the equipment will be installed has not been finalized. One idea was to carve out a space in the northeast corner of City Park. Parents could use the workout equipment while their kids played on playground equipment. Dog walkers at the park could stop for a quick workout.
 Once a spot has been determined, the individual pieces of exercise equipment will be installed with cement posts. The equipment comes preassembled and ships about 10 weeks after the order is placed. People will use the exercise equipment more if it is placed in a cluster rather than spaced out, Brock said.
 The total cost of the project, including all gym equipment, installation labor, cement and gravel for the ground cover, was estimated by Brock at $26,195.
 In all, WMH employees have given $8,879 through contributions to buy three pieces of equipment. Another $1,200 was raised through donations to Idaho Gives, leaving a balance of about $17,000.
 Brock also partnered with the WMH Foundation to explore grant opportunities to complete the project funding. She hopes the balance can be raised by the end of the summer. Applying for grants required that the city approve putting the equipment on public property.
 Council member Larry Hogg said he had concerns about the city taking over maintenance of the gym equipment and who would assume liability for it.
 He also asked why the hospital doesn’t install the exercise equipment on the hospital’s property.
 Brock said there is more parking around City Park and it makes the most sense to place it in a multi-use public park. If the equipment were installed on the hospital grounds, the public might not understand it is open for all to use.
 City Clerk Dave Tate said the liability for the exercise equipment would be the same as playground equipment at parks. The city has insurance that handles all injury claims.
 City attorney Steve Stuchlik said the city also has what is called recreational immunity if someone gets hurt on playground or any other equipment that is open for public use.
 Hogg said he wanted the parks committee to work out the details on where the equipment is placed and the layout. The final plans should come back to the city council for one last review.
 Council member Dan Randleman said he was in favor of the outdoor gym project. He said he could envision people out on their walks using the equipment for a workout.
 “I think it’s a very viable project,” he said.
 After a lengthy discussion, the council took a vote and approved moving forward with the outdoor gym project.