Malvern Park Exercise Trail
Summary
A running/walking track and an outdoor fitness equipment area are proposed for Malvern Park in St
Albans.
Advice was obtained from Christchurch City Council and an outdoor equipment specialist. An outdoor
gym is proposed alongside the Malvern Park children’s play equipment, that will be effective for all ages
from school children to senior citizens, including the disabled. In addition to the outdoor gym, four static
exercise equipments are proposed around the perimeter of the park.
An assessment was made of the track surface options for a running/walking track and due to the large
trees adjoining the track a lot of surface options were eliminated due to maintenance costs from tree
root impacts on a permanent track surface. A grass protecting matt will be trialed for suitability as a
walking/running track surface.
A staged approach:
1. Construct outdoor gym and set up track surface trial
2. Install four exercise equipments around the perimeter of the park
3. Construct an all weather running/walking track surface at the Roosevelt Ave end of the park
4. Monitor Malvern St and Innes Rd track surface
Introduction
A community survey, in 2012, identified the need for outdoor exercise equipment and an all weather
running/walking trail around Malvern Park.
The Christchurch City Council were approached and agreed that concept had merit and were willing to
support it as long as the community supported it.
Proposal
It is proposed to set up exercise equipment and a running/walking trail at Malvern Park to cater for
users of all ages and abilities.
An adult exercise equipment area is proposed at the south western end of the park, beside the
children’s play area.
Proposed exercise equipment area at south western end of the park
The 1.5 metre wide and 600 metre long running/walking track is proposed around the perimeter of the
park following the line of the well worn track that runners/walkers are presently using.
Existing running/walking trail on Malvern Street side of Malvern Park
Roosevelt Ave side of park
Existing running/walking trail on Innes Road side of park
Why
The population of St Albans has a very diverse range of ages; ranging from the young families through to
retiring age baby boomers. The park is extensively used by sports groups, families and individuals
walking their dog or out for a run or walk. The trail/exercise area will be designed to cater for all ages
and will become a social gathering area.
People are currently using the park to run and walk around. Around the perimeter of the park users
have worn away the grass forming a dirt track. In the winter this track becomes muddy and Roosevelt
Ave end of the park becomes very wet. These under foot conditions are not conducive for
running/walking during the winter months.
The exercise equipment will be grouped together at one location beside the children’s play area,
allowing for parents to exercise while their children play on the play equipment and for users to socially
interact while exercising.
The site will provide a safe, fun, free exercise zone that is always open; making it easy for a community
to get active and stay active.
The benefits:
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A free local community multi-sports zone
Breaks down barriers to sport and physical activity
It's free and open 24-7-365 days a year
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Open to all ages
Coaching centre for huge variety of sports
A sporting legacy for youth, clubs and local communities
Exercise Equipment
The exercise equipment will be grouped together at one location. A site beside the children’s play area is
considered to be the best location which will allow parents to exercise while their children play. In
addition to this group of equipments, there will be four static exercise equipments staggered around the
running/walking trail.
Proposed exercise equipment area at south western end of the park
Example of an exercise equipment area
Example of exercise equipment in use
There are a number of options for exercise equipment and for the surface they are on. It is
recommended eight items of equipment are located at the site, which includes two pieces of equipment
that cater for wheelchair users. The items selected will cover a range of exercises and body muscle
groups. It is suggested the exercise area be composed of two disabled double unit machines, three
cardio double unit machines and three strength and toning double unit machines.
The exercise area surface will need to cater for wheelchairs and therefore be a suitable hard surface.
Examples of disabled exercise equipment
Track Options
A number of track surface options have been reviewed for running/walking circuit around the perimeter
of the park. These included surfaces for walk chair use. The surfaces considered were; compacted
gravel, grass, asphalt, concrete and synthetic.
Due to the track being located beside the chestnut trees lining the park, growing and moving roots
would damage a hard track surface. Therefore the options of asphalt, concrete and synthetic surfaces
were removed from consideration for the perimeter track adjoin the trees.
Considering for ascetic reasons, the option of keeping the perimeter track as a grass surface; a grass
reinforced mesh is thought to have merit as a track surface. With the Roosevelt Ave end of the park
being the wettest section in the winter, Council have agreed this would be a good location to run a trial
of laying a grass reinforcement mesh through which the grass grows.
Grassprotecta Grass Surface
The Roosevelt Ave end of the park is seen as a priority for forming a track due to being very wet in the
winter months. An all weather track surface will be formed here following the Grassprotecta trial.
The worn grass sections on the Malvern St and Innes Rd sides of the park will be monitored and should a
surface be required, the Grassprotecta (subject to trials) or an aggregate surface will be considered.
Aggregate track surface at Holmwood Park
Exercise Equipment Area Cost
It is suggested the exercise area surface be asphalt and composed of two disabled double unit machines,
three cardio double unit machines and three strength and toning double unit machines. Together with
the four single exercise equipments located around the running/walking track and using volunteer
labour the total cost would be approximately $50,000.
Funding
Funding options will need to be investigated.
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Christchurch City Council
Sponsorships and fund raising
Recommendations
Construct an exercise area beside the childrens play equipment that caters for wheelchair users. This
will consist of an asphalt surface with two disabled user machines and six cardio, strength and toning
machines.
Set up four separate stations around the running/walking park perimeter track.
Run a trial using Grassprotecta to assess its suitability for the running walking track around the
perimeter of the park. Monitor the existing grass track surface on the Malvern St and Innes Road sides
of the park and consider the Grassprotecta or aggregate surface for these locations should they be
needed.