New fitness trail set for Exeter park

An exciting new fitness trail is set to be installed in an Exeter park.

The trail, which will incorporate outdoor fitness equipment as well as standard exercise challenges, will be installed at Cowick Barton playing fields. The project has been made possible thanks to a £41,620 grant from Alcoa Foundation, and local company Alcoa Howmet.

Active Exeter in partnership with Exeter City Council will work with local communities in designing and installing the trail, which is scheduled to be ready for action early next Summer. A key part of the community involvement will be with local teenagers.

Exeter's Health and Wellbeing Board has been instrumental in driving forward the project to increase physical activity and sports participation within the city. The Board's number one priority is to make Exeter the most physically active city in the South West by 2018.

The aim of the fitness trail is to increase visitor numbers to the park by 50% by October 2016, with around 100 people using the Trail on a weekly basis and gaining benefits to their health.

Cllr Keith Owen, Lead Councillor for Environment, Health and Wellbeing, said: "The Fitness Trail will be an enjoyable way for people to stay fit and active while having fun. Twenty per cent of 11-year-olds in the UK are currently obese. In Exeter we're doing our bit to buck this trend."

“Nicola Acton, of Alcoa Howmett, said: "Alcoa Howmet has been focusing on Well Being activities for over 12 months to help keep their workforce fit and healthy, and the new Fitness Trial was an excellent Project which the local community and our employees could all benefit from.
 
"We look forward to the works commencing and working alongside the Council,” she added.