Community Activated Outdoor Gyms: Transforming Public Spaces for Wellbeing
How outdoor gyms can create vibrant, inclusive fitness spaces — with practical guidance on equipment, budgets, activation models, and turning public spaces into community hubs.
Georgie Delaney MBE
Founder, The Great Outdoor Gym Company
The Rich History of Outdoor Fitness
The outdoor gym movement evolved through European military training in Germany and Sweden, before becoming widespread in China during the 1990s as part of their preparation for the Beijing Olympics. That's where I first encountered the concept while working at Sport England on the London 2012 Olympic bid. Inspired by what I saw, I pitched the idea to the CEO who encouraged me to set up my own business.
Fast forward to today, and outdoor gyms have become a global trend with profound impacts on communities worldwide. With over 3,000 installations across 40 countries, we've seen first-hand how these spaces transform not just physical health, but entire communities.
The Two Major Wins of Outdoor Gyms
1. Movement Medicine
Exercise is now widely recognised as a "wonder drug" by medical professionals. In Faversham, we partnered with a local physiotherapy practice to design a gym explicitly for movement medicine programmes. For three years, they've run weekly "Healthy Hearts" and "Move Type 2" sessions with remarkable results.
These programmes don't just improve physical health — they create social connections that benefit mental wellbeing too. The combination of movement, social connection, and being in nature creates a powerful formula for holistic health.
2. The Rise of Calisthenics
Calisthenics — derived from the Greek words "kalos" (beauty) and "sthenos" (strength) — has experienced explosive growth, particularly among young people. This bodyweight exercise discipline focuses on movements like pull-ups, dips, and various strength holds.
The pandemic accelerated this trend as people moved their workouts outdoors. The transformation of spaces like Burgess Park near the Aylesbury estate in London shows how these gyms can create safe, positive environments in challenging areas — spaces that become free from alcohol and drugs, focused entirely on fitness and mutual support across demographics.
Transforming Spaces, Transforming Lives
What's particularly inspiring is how calisthenics has created inclusive, wholesome communities. These spaces become free from alcohol and drugs, focused entirely on fitness and mutual support across demographics.
The Community Activation Model
Installing equipment is just the beginning. True success comes from community activation — a model we've developed through years of experimentation and refinement.
At Southall, one of Sport England's local delivery pilots, we not only designed the gyms with community input but trained 40 local residents to run activities. These "activators" appear on digital screens at the gyms and in our app, creating a sense of ownership that has dramatically increased engagement to an average of 1,500 uses per gym per month.
Introducing TGO Activate
A community-powered app designed to support councils, fitness professionals, and residents in activating outdoor gyms. The app transforms outdoor fitness spaces into thriving community hubs driven by local people.
Community users can book classes and explore sessions at their local gym
Local residents can become "activators" by leading sessions (with proper vetting)
Sessions can be free or paid, creating economic opportunities
The app integrates with social media for easy sharing and promotion
The benefits include boosting the local economy, enhancing gym usage, enabling volunteering, and providing a platform for diverse activities from calisthenics meetups to movement medicine classes.
The future of outdoor fitness lies in community ownership, technological integration, and inclusive design. By bringing together these elements, we can create spaces that truly serve everyone.
Getting Started with Your Own Community Gym
If you're considering creating an outdoor gym in your community, here are the key recommendations.
Equipment Selection
A calisthenics rig as the centrepiece (extremely versatile and popular)
Traditional gym equipment for inclusivity (chest press, seated row, etc.)
Consider weights stations for broader appeal
Budget range: £20,000–£80,000 depending on size and features
Flooring
Wet-pour surfacing is optimal (though more expensive than alternatives)
Provides versatility for floor exercises and creates a more appealing space
Critical fall heights of 1.2m should be considered for safety
Installation Process
UK manufacturing with 4–6 week lead times for rigs
Installation takes about 2 weeks
Trainers and activators provided to help launch your gym
App integration available for booking and community engagement
Success Stories That Inspire
The impact of these installations goes beyond physical health. In Burgess Park, a shipping container serves as storage for equipment that local activators use for free community sessions. People of all demographics enjoy the space together — a true testament to the power of thoughtful design and community engagement.
Working with local physiotherapists and GPs, these spaces can deliver structured movement medicine programmes addressing conditions from cardiac health issues to diabetes. They represent an inclusive, affordable platform for delivering physical activity as preventative healthcare.
Looking Forward: The Future of Community Fitness
As we continue to develop our community activation model, we're focused on breaking down barriers to entry in the sports economy. Outdoor gyms aren't just places to boost physical and mental health — they're platforms for prosperity, creating opportunities for local fitness entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Working with local physiotherapists and GPs, these spaces can deliver structured movement medicine programmes addressing conditions from cardiac health issues to diabetes. They represent an inclusive, affordable platform for delivering physical activity as preventative healthcare.
Join the Movement
Whether you represent a large town or a small village, there's an outdoor gym solution that can work for your community. The key is finding the right equipment mix, creating an appealing space, and embracing the community activation model.
Watch the Full Webinar
For a deeper dive into equipment options, funding approaches, community activation strategies, and answers to specific questions from council representatives, watch the complete webinar recording below.
A Note from John Fagan, Founder of Civic.ly
Managing outdoor gym equipment alongside playgrounds, benches, and other community assets shouldn't be complicated. Civic.ly helps parish and town councils stay on top of health and safety regulations and insurance requirements with automated scheduling.
With Civic.ly, you can:
Schedule and track inspections automatically for all outdoor equipment
Document equipment condition with photos and GPS location
Generate compliance reports instantly for council meetings
Set maintenance reminders so nothing falls through the cracks
Use AI to categorise playground and gym assets from photos
