Close-to-home fitness opportunities

EXERCISE ISLANDS FOR THE “ACTIVE CITY” OF HAMBURG

CLOSE-TO-HOME FITNESS OPPORTUNITIES

Author PLAYPARC GmbH, www.playparc.de / Naumann Landschaft, www.naumann-landschaft.de Photos Naumann Landschaft

A striking design with a high recognition value has firmly established the “exercise island” strategy and the “Active City” brand in the city and the greater Hamburg area. Back in 2016, the Hamburg Senate approved the large-scale “Active City” project, budgeted at around EUR 50 million. The cornerstone of the exercise islands is the stationary equipment from PLAYPARC for strength training, coordination and stretching exercises, in combination with endurance sports such as jogging and walking.

From 2017 to 2024, 26 sports infrastructure projects, spread across the city, have been and are being implemented. These are projects for both mass sports and elite sports. The aim is to create a range of close-to-home sports and training opportunities for young and old, fit and unfit, at any time and in the fresh air.

Low-threshold fitness opportunities for all On the basis of this premise, the idea of the exercise islands was born. A low-threshold offer was to be created in the city’s parks and neighbourhoods and made as accessible to as many people as possible at short range. An important goal of planning was to develop a concise, easily recognisable design that would anchor the concept of the “exercise island” and the “Active City” brand in the urban environment. Each exercise island had to function as independently as possible of the varying spatial requirements, and had to be transferable and flexibly usable. Success by combining sports The solution was to combine endurance sports such as jogging and walking with stationary equipment for strength training, coordination and stretching exercises.

Over the last two years, two more exercise islands have been created. In addition to the specially created web presence at hamburg.de, the now nine Hamburg exercise islands, regularly used by a large number of sports enthusiasts, are also generating a considerable response in the social media.

After the creative design work by the planning office Naumann Landschaft, PLAYPARC was the company responsible for delivery and installation of the fitness equipment.