A NEW outdoor gym in Coley is now complete and ready for residents to work out on.

Coley Recreation Ground in west Reading has benefited from a £65K investment.

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Keep fit enthusiasts as well as people looking for a free way to get more active can now access:

  • A wheelchair accessible Smart Energy Hand Bike, which generates electricity to charge a phone and contains smart technology to count hits.
  • A training rig with over 11 stations, great for all ages and abilities.
  • A recumbent bike, spinning bike and cross trainer.

The new gym has been designed to offer free fitness for all and offers a mix of robust equipment to suit people of varying ages and abilities.

It offers both single and multi-use units as well as equipment for seated and standing users.

The outdoor gym is already proving popular with local residents.

Annie O’Neill, who lives in Coley Park, said: “I voted for the gym to be installed and I’m really, really happy it is here!

"I hope lots and lots of people use it. I will certainly come over and work out and I think it is a great thing for the local community.”

Exercise enthusiast Simon Micuda, who has recently moved to Reading, came across the outdoor gym on one of his walks.

He said: “It is really good to work out in nature.

"Working out in a gym gets boring! I’m glad this is here – it has become like a second home for me now!”

Councillor Karen Rowland, Reading’s Lead Member for Culture, Heritage and Recreation, said: “I’m delighted to announce the new outdoor gym at Coley Park Recreation Ground is ready for everyone to work out!

“We know that parks are one of the most valued amenities in Reading and can also provide great opportunities for people to keep active.

"This new outdoor gym offers and encourages free fitness opportunities for a wide range of the park’s users.

"Additionally, there is good provision for those with accessibility issues so that the widest possible range of users can benefit.

“I’m pleased that we were able to put such a significant sum into Coley Recreation Ground.

"It is one of our key priorities that we provide high quality, accessible equipment in as many of our parks as possible.

"I’d like to especially thank the ward councillors in Coley who listened to what locals wanted and were so instrumental and involved in making this project happen.

“This is an exciting and worthwhile investment for the area and will benefit large numbers local people for years to come.”

Funding for the new outdoor gym has come through developer contributions from local redevelopment.