UPDATE: Rotary clubs get tacit support for outdoor gym in Lamoureux Park

CORNWALL, Ontario – It might not be Muscle Beach in California, but a pair of local Rotary clubs appear close to adding a splash of colour to Lamoureux Park.

The groups were successful in getting tacit approval to build an outdoor gym in the waterfront park from city council Monday night, though the official green light will take a few weeks while municipal administrators look over the plan.

“There has been 100 per cent support from all groups for the outdoor gym,” said Pat Clarke of the Rotary Club of Cornwall. “There’s so many benefits to this.

“Active people can come out to the park to use it.”

Initial cost estimates suggest it could be as much as $65,000 for the first phase of the project, which will be borne solely by the Sunrise Rotary Club, and the Rotary Club of Cornwall.

“We would be fools to say no,” said Coun. David Murphy.

Other Rotary clubs in Canada, including the Whitby chapter, have completed similar projects which include exercise machines built out of heavy steel to withstand the elements.

“It’s free access to anyone in the community,” said Sebastien Warner of the Sunrise Rotary Club in Cornwall.

The clubs are proposing to build the gym along the bike path between the Cornwall Community Museum and the splash pad in Lamoureux Park.

Coun. Glen Grant was wondering about potential vandals having their way with the equipment.

While Clarke could not make an iron-clad guarantee, he suggested nothing short of a “blowtorch” could effect the equipment.

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