Mount Pleasant seniors exercise space opens

Ms Dalman enjoyed the launch for the exercise space in Mount Pleasant - the first of its kind in regional Victoria - but she could hardly wait to return when it was a bit quieter to have a go on her own and practise to "do it properly".

"My daughter is a physio(therapist) and forever saying I need to do exercises to prevent a fall or prevent doing my hip," Ms Dalman said. "We, as seniors, have really got to work on our core strength and weight lifting.

"...I think this is a very good idea and I think we need more of them."

The exercise park officially opened at Mount Pleasant Reserve on Monday morning under a City of Ballarat partnership with the National Ageing Research Institute and heavily boosted by philanthropic donations.

This is the fifth exercise park purpose-built for seniors in Victoria, with one being a feature of a residential facility.

The Mount Pleasant exercise space sits next to a children's playground to encourage inter-generational activity and connections.

Ms Dalman, who lives in Miners Rest, said it would be worth the drive to bring her grandchildren for a play, a kick of football, a barbecue and for moral support.

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The exercise space is part of the National Ageing Research Institute's ENJOY program which studies the physical and social benefits to older users. Volunteers will also be instructed in how to use the equipment, and an accompanying app, to help pass instruction to others.

NARI director Briony Dow a lot of public exercise equipment or gym-based training was not always suitable for seniors and their needs. Instead, this dedicated space had equipment to challenge balance, core strength and upper and lower limb dexterity with safe ways to graduate exercises.

Professor Dow was confident the concept would entice more seniors across the community, even those who might be a little uncertain, to give the space a try.

"We make it attractive, we make it nearby to places they might be coming to anyway," Professor Dow said. "We make it an inter-generational place for families and accessibility is a key thing."

Only one in four senior Australians meet the recommended physical activity guidlines, according to NARI, and Professor Dow said it was important to find ways to engage this cohort.

City of Ballarat mayor Daniel Moloney said there were lots of seniors really keen for greater opportunities to get moving. Cr Moloney said already walking groups in the wider area had been tweaking their courses to take in a lap of the Mount Pleasant Reserve and try out the equipment.

"As Ballarat's aging population is increasing there's more and more demand for facilities like this. Especially during the COVID period, people were getting frustrated sitting around the house way too much and not being active," Cr Moloney said.

"This is a great way to get out and be a bit more active. One of the things I love about this is that it's testing balance, core strength every part of the body can get a physical work-out here. It's fantastic."

The exercise space fits in with City of Ballarat's focus on being an "age-friendly" community.

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