First-ever playground for seniors opens in Lower Sackville

WATCH: The first playground specifically tailored for seniors is now open in Lower Sackville. It’s designed to get seniors out but also to keep them healthy. Julia Wong reports.

HALIFAX – Halifax now has its first playground specifically tailored for seniors.

The seniors agility park, located behind Acadia Hall in Lower Sackville, opened this week. It is the first of its kind in the municipality.

Linda Hefler, the director for the Acadia Recreation Club, said the park is a way for seniors to not only get outside but to get healthy.

Hefler said the various exercise devices can help seniors with their balance, hand-eye coordination and shoulder movements. She said they can also help with stretching, twisting and turning, all things that may get difficult for seniors as they age.

The exercises include an uneven balance beam, stationary bike and a board on springs that works on balance. There are also large rotating boards that work out arm movements and gripping devices that will help increase hand strength.

Hefler said the park is important in an area such as Sackville, which was several seniors groups, seniors centres and senior clubs.

“There’s a lot of seniors that don’t want to go out to gyms and pay for the cost of gyms. They’re all on fixed incomes so this just enables people to get out,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There's a lot of seniors that don't want to go out to gyms and pay for the cost of gyms. They're all on fixed incomes so this just enables people to get out," she said.

Get weekly health news

Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.

Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Mary Stevens, who works with seniors at her job, said the park will be beneficial to seniors in the area.

“A lot of them could use something like this. It would be beneficial,” she said.

“The range of motion, the balance and just being able to move. That’s the important thing with seniors.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The range of motion, the balance and just being able to move. That's the important thing with seniors."

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Denise MacDonald, 50, as she tried the park out for the first time on Thursday.

“I think it’s a great thing and it’s outside, which I think is great. I don’t go to the gym myself but being outside in the fresh air would be great for the seniors and also for me.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I think it's a great thing and it's outside, which I think is great. I don't go to the gym myself but being outside in the fresh air would be great for the seniors and also for me."

Don MacLennan, who is on the board of directors of Acadia Hall and the nearby park, said the agility park is open to the public and free, which he hopes encourages people, especially seniors, to use it.

“It’s used for people that are having problems with walking and surgery,” he said, adding the exercises can help with joint management and agility.

The agility park, which has a price tag of $21,000, was made possible thanks to a grant from the New Horizons for Seniors program.