The opening of a $25,000 outdoor gym along the Tanilba Bay foreshore has provided residents living on the Tilligerry Peninsula the incentive to boost their health and fitness levels.
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Funding for the project was provided through the NSW Government's Community Sport Infrastructure Grant program.
Tilligerry Community Association applied for the funding while the acquisition and installation of the exercise equipment was supplied by Port Stephens Council.
Speaking about the progress made in Peace Park, association president Fran Corner said it had taken "many years" of hard work to turn the reserve into the popular and family-friendly space that it is now.
"This park hasn't always been as beautiful as it is. It used to be a really boggy park. You would get to the barbecues and go no further," she said.
"The council and the community have put a lot of work and money into the park and putting in the playground. I think the addition of the outdoor gym is a really good fit.
"It would also be beneficial to parents who want to exercise while keeping a close eye on their children playing in the nearby playground."
Paterson MP Meryl Swanson, who was on hand for the launch, said that she had been "really happy" to advocate for the grant that was used to establish the equipment in Peace Park.
"Fitness and being active outdoors are such important things," Ms Swanson said.
"You don't need to spend two hours in the gym every day to be fit. You can come down here [park] for 10 minutes a few times a week and use the equipment and your fitness levels will improve exponentially.
"This park has become a place where one day children will say they remember coming down here to play and exercise."
Following the official launch, Tilligerry fitness instructor Leane Waters, from Le'Fit, demonstrated how to use each of the four pieces of equipment, which comprised chest and leg presses, sit up bench and pull down.
The outdoor gym is just one of the association's projects. It has also applied to repair the headland in Peace Park, finish the loop path between Tanilba Bay and Foster Park, plant street trees in Pershing Place, plant koala trees around Tanilba Point and Mallabula Sports Complex and build a path west of the Henderson Park boat ramp in Lemon Tree Passage.
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