26th October 2026
Introducing an outdoor gym to your community is an exciting opportunity to boost physical and mental wellbeing, bring people together and inspire a more active lifestyle.
With so many benefits to enjoy, you’ll want to make the most of your investment and may have a number of questions. To help you get started, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about creating an outdoor gym. And if you’d like to know more, our friendly team is always happy to help!
The short answer is almost anywhere, in a small or large space, into most surface types including grass, tarmac etc. assuming the ground is relatively flat and even. If the area is prone to flooding, you will also need to plan for groundworks.
Choose a well-lit spot that passers-by can see, or which is noticeable from nearby buildings, to increase visibility and safety while discouraging vandalism. (At the same time, don’t position the gym too close to residential windows or classrooms, to minimise disturbance.) Finally, you’ll want to consider wheelchair accessibility.
This depends on several variables, including the size of the facility, the type of equipment plus the quality of the materials used. Site extras such as surfacing, fencing and benches will also impact the price.
At leading provider Fresh Air Fitness, we offer outstanding long-term value to schools, local authorities and others with our turnkey service and high quality products, backed by a 25-year warranty.
Compact installations such as the Children’s Fitness Rig, costs just £5,000, including delivery and installation, with minimal ongoing running costs. Or the Councils Starter Package, with 5 user stations for only £4,000, fully installed.
Visit our offers page for a range of packages and prices, or simply tell us your budget and we’ll find a solution that works.
As with most industries, there are various companies who can supply outdoor gym equipment, with varying levels of quality, expertise, experience and compliance. You could find some outdoor gym equipment online and try to install the facility yourself, and you may find this approach works for you.
Employing an outdoor gym equipment expert will ensure the best results. Working with a specialist supplier like Fresh Air Fitness, who focuses exclusively on this kind of amenity, with a full-service offering, will take you all the way from initial consultation through to installation, after-care and beyond. We’ll also ensure your gym is fully compliant.
In fact, planning permission is rarely required for an outdoor gym
Most public and community outdoor gyms usually don’t need planning permission. In public parks and on parish land, for example, often you won’t need to apply, although it’s still a good idea to notify your local planning authority.
Outdoor gyms installed into schools and commercial sites again are generally exempt. However, some covered structures, for example, may require approval.
You generally will have to apply where a listed building is involved, or in a protected area such as a National Park, or, sometimes, if the facility exceeds certain height and size limits.
A good provider such as Fresh Air Fitness will offer accurate, helpful advice about planning permission.
This depends largely on who’ll be using the gym and their training goals. You should also evaluate available space, since you’ll need around 1.5m of safety space around each fitness piece.
At Fresh Air Fitness, our experts and vast product catalogue will support you in developing the right solution for your needs. We’ll ensure your gym suits your space and users, while offering the best mix of cardio and strength equipment for full-body workouts.
Resident consultation is a big part of what we offer. We collaborate with councils, housing associations and Friends of park groups to consult residents via a multi-step, structured process of community engagement, so that your gym best meets local needs.
Firstly our complimentary expert site visits provide an opportunity to understand the community that will be using the proposed gym and the goals of the project, as well as providing an opportunity to consider any site limitations while evaluating safety spacing, ground suitability and access pathways.
We also offer a bespoke community survey, which gathers feedback from the community on what type of equipment residents would like in the gym, the layout preferred, how often they plan to use it and when, if they require accessible products etc.
For bigger public projects, we work with councils to consult with the local community by using 3D layouts posted onto council websites and/or social media platforms, allowing residents to vote on choice of kit and the location of pieces before work starts.
Finally, our free post-installation launches help communities get the most from their new gym equipment, with guidance on using it safely, effectively and confidently.
Speak to an expert today to learn more about our comprehensive consultation package.
If funding is required, clearly, a key consideration will be how to source the funds you’ll need for your outdoor gym project. At Fresh Air Fitness, our specialists can offer funding support in this area to community groups, councils, schools and others. We bring a wealth of experience in terms of securing funds and understanding the available schemes. There are numerous bodies you can apply to, including, for example, Sport England.
Equally, there’s funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a fixed, non-negotiable charge that local planning authorities in England and Wales place on new building projects and large development. This can be used to fund local sporting facilities.
New developments also contribute to nearby communities and infrastructure through Section 106 (S106) agreements. These are legally binding planning obligations made between a developer and local planning authority under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. They generally apply to new builds with at least 11 homes. Funds cover green space, affordable housing and so on, and an outdoor gym could be funded under this arrangement.
There are various organisations who can install outdoor gyms, with various levels of experience and expertise. You could also opt to install the equipment yourself, simply buying from suppliers or relevant website.
In most cases Fresh Air Fitness will provide a full service, end to end experience. This ensures the installation is fitted safely, securely and correctly, with expert knowledge helping to streamline the process and deliver a professional, long-lasting and compliant facility.
However, we also offer a supply-only service with full installation guidance if that is what you prefer.
In many cases, the school, council or local authority will handle maintenance. Fresh Air Fitness provide a complementary maintenance kit with every installation. We also offer a full aftercare service. Our team of engineers can attend your site annually to review your gym, complete safety checks and carry out maintenance work as necessary. Our warehouse is full of spare parts, so these are easily sourced (not all outdoor gym suppliers offer this level of service, many do not carry spare parts, carry a limited number or require several weeks to be able to supply them).
Finally, the generous warranties on our machines guarantee their longevity – main structural parts, for example, are covered for 25 years.
Got any more questions or want to discuss a fitness facility for your community? Get in touch. Call us on 01483 608 860, email sales@freshairfitness.co.uk or send an online enquiry.
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