CONCERNS are mounting over “underwhelming” fitness equipment at a Cleveland park, prompting a councillor to call for a review and its possible replacement.
The exercise equipment at William Ross Park, intended to improve local fitness opportunities, has faced criticism for not meeting expectations.
Residents have voiced dissatisfaction with the design and functionality of the equipment, claiming that it does not align with the intended goals of providing accessible and effective exercise options.
Users have expressed frustration, noting that the equipment appears impractical for various age groups and fitness levels.
Resident Greg Wills questioned whether the Council had installed exercise equipment or a children’s playground.
“Sometimes nothing is better than something,” he said.
“The ‘exercise’ equipment recently installed at William Ross Park is a perfect example.”
He said two of the four “stations” resembled toys you would find at a preschool: threading a bead along a bent wire and cog wheels from an activity board.
“These two pieces are patronising to people in the area who were expecting exercise equipment,” he said.
Mr Wills said the other two devices were similarly inappropriate.
“A butterfly press, that only a weightlifter could successfully use, and a pedal wheel that, for most people, is unsafe to use due to the awkward position you need to be in to even reach the pedals,” he said.
Mr Wills said he walked past the equipment daily and had not seen anyone using it for exercise.
“I’ve seen school children climbing on the butterfly press, teenagers bewildered at how they would even reach the pedals of the wheel, and once watched as an adult sat at the butterfly press, tried to use it, realised it was beyond his ability, then got up and walked away,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lisa Sampson and her partner originally met with Cr Peter Mitchell at the park in 2021, where they discussed the installation and even shared inspiration photos of equipment from her old address in Wakerley.
Last month, Ms Sampson met again with Cr Mitchell at the park to “demonstrate the equipment’s uselessness”.
“He said to me then that he hadn’t even tried the equipment until that morning – that’s his road-testing through the lens of a Masters qualified sports physiotherapist,” she said.
“His feet couldn’t even reach the cycle pedals unless he almost laid down on the seat.
“He tried to be Arnie (Schwarzeneggar) on the butterfly press with incredible difficulty and couldn’t explain the usefulness of the dexterity bar or the tai chi wheels.
“His ‘clever use of the equipment’ was to show me how to do tricep press-ups on the stone blocks, to use the dexterity bar as an uneven, unsafe pull-up bar, and to stand behind the butterfly press and push it instead.
“In other words, to use all the pieces of equipment in ways unintended.”
Cr Mitchell, who represents the area, has subsequently committed to addressing the issue.
To ensure that the park meets the needs of the community, he will be requesting an on-site meeting with Council officers.
“I am disappointed to hear repeated dissatisfaction with the newly installed exercise equipment,” he said.
“I stand with the community in calling on Council to provide the evidence that the current equipment was selected based on data and research for functionality and proven popularity.
“If the equipment cannot be made more usable, it should be replaced.
“In researching the matter, I have discovered that three other councillors at least have had similar underwhelming outcomes in parks.”
