Nick Vay, the vice president of commercial sales at BeaverFit, shares how to create unique areas to add outdoor fitness spaces at your facility.
If you’re interested in creating an outdoor training space for your facility but you’re not sure where to put it, here are three places you should consider.
The Parking Lot
If you have ample parking for members and redesignating some spaces wouldn’t pose an inconvenience, an outdoor training space can be created in your very own parking lot. For this area, it would be important to construct a fence or other barrier to create a zone that’s safe for members and secure from outside traffic or other hazards.
Secure storage will be an important consideration here as well. The equipment you select should include dedicated, lockable storage for all integrated accessories and components. Otherwise, you’ll run the risk of your training gear growing legs and finding a new home.
With the addition of rubber or turf flooring along with custom colors and branding, you can turn a parking lot training space into a true extension of your facility — one that will welcome existing members and attract new ones.
Old Basketball or Tennis Courts
If the basketball or tennis courts at your facility are no longer being used or are underutilized, consider turning that space into a dedicated outdoor training zone.
With custom flooring, outdoor-rated strength equipment and accessories — and lockable storage customized to reflect your facility’s colors and branding — your members will never realize that your high-quality outdoor training zone was once an old basketball or tennis court.
The Roof
If the structure of your facility enables it, a rooftop training space creates an exciting new experience for members without adding extra real estate. The rooftop exercise zone can simply be an extension of your most popular training facilities indoors. For example, bring outdoor-rated strength and functional equipment outside.
Structural considerations will be important here, and you may find the best solutions are freestanding training stations that don’t require anchoring. Additionally, integrated storage will be crucial to avoid members bringing accessories in and out of the facility. Any equipment and accessories that are placed on the roof should be weather-resistant, designed for outdoor use and have dedicated storage.
Finally, if none of these options are available in your current space, consider investing in a mobile training solution designed to bring training on the road. Through the use of mobile gyms, clubs and organizations can train members in new locations — such as community parks, fields, beaches and more. Just don’t forget to request the appropriate permit.
Gone are the days of being confined to the four walls of your facility. It’s time to think outside the box.
