Try an outdoor gym at Volkening Lake
The Schaumburg Park District opened an outdoor fitness trail at Volkening Lake in May.
Volkening Lake, 900 W. Schaumburg Road, is open daily and available 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. This recreational haven offers something for everyone with a path, paddle boats, picnic areas, fishing, scenery and now a fitness area.
"Our parks department worked closely with our fitness supervisor to select equipment that provides a great workout," said Todd King, superintendent of parks and planning.
The new outdoor equipment includes stationary bikes, ellipticals, pullup bars, leg machines, balance equipment and upper-body machines.
The addition to Volkening Lake was a Schaumburg Park Foundation project to keep up with the new trend of outdoor fitness. The Schaumburg Park Foundation is a fundraising organization dedicated to providing resources for the preservation of open space, conservation, nature, recreation, culture and education in Schaumburg for use by all.
"The new trend in fitness has become these outdoor areas. They are becoming more and more popular and we decided it was time to invest in one," said King.
With blue rubber flooring, the fitness area blends into the scenery of the water, giving views from all angles as the equipment faces the lake. The existing pathway snakes through the new area providing the opportunity to work out while out on a run or walk.
"Volkening Lake was our first choice when considering building an outdoor fitness area. The design fit perfectly with the existing path and it gives visitors another opportunity to get fit," said King.
All items are specially designed for outdoor use and constructed from materials similar to playground equipment. A few items use body weight as resistance, while others have a set resistance. All machines feature a plaque with instructional illustrations and a QR code for more information. All machines are for ages 13 and older.
For information, call (847) 985-2115 or visit www.parkfun.com.
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