Firms wants to take fitness to parks all over Halifax area
December 16, 2011 - 7:24pm By BRETT BUNDALE Business Reporter
GreenGym Ltd.wants to bring an al fresco exercise gym to a park near you.
The Dartmouth outdoor fitness equipment manufacturer has teamed up with a number of public and private players to launch MyFitCity.
The project aims to open 40 outdoor fitness facilities across Halifax Regional Municipality in 2012.
“We want to have an outdoor fitness park within walking distance to every resident of HRM,” said Deb Merry, co-founder of the gym equipment outfit with her husband Guy Chaham.
Eight outdoor gyms are already set up in parks across the municipality, with heavy-duty equipment like leg presses, rowing machines and chest presses accessible and free for everyone.
While a number of non-profit groups, businesses and political leaders support the concept, GreenGym is looking for corporate sponsors to help bankroll the project.
MyFitCity hopes to raise $1.2 million for the equipment, park site preparation and installation.
The cost of sponsoring one park, which will be in use for 10 to 15 years, is $30,000.
GreenGym has committed two years of free maintenance and an extra piece of equipment valued at $2,000 for each park.
The Woodside company started as a shoestring operation out of Merry and Chaham’s basement.
“We’ve designed and built a version of gym equipment that is suitable for use outside,” Merry said.
The steel equipment is bolted into concrete to minimize vandalism and avoid theft.
The workout equipment is suitable for all fitness levels and helps people warm up and stretch, develop upper- and lower-body strength, cardio, core strength, balance and flexibility.
Although the company used to import its equipment from China, a variety of quality, safety and logistical issues prompted GreenGym to manufacture its own equipment at its Woodside facility.
GreenGym wants the municipality to be a model for how parks and outdoor space can be leveraged to create healthier communities.
“Gym memberships are great but they can be pricey and require scheduling, commitment and planning,” Merry said.
“The GreenGym fitness facility allows for spontaneous activity and is free for use.”
The outdoor gym concept helps communities improve green space use and combat daunting problems like obesity, she said.
GreenGym is seeking equity partners to help the company launch its product in the United States.
“Right now, we’re on the verge of an incredible growth surge,” Merry said. “This market is taking off across North America.”
The company can produce 2,200 units a year, but it could double that capacity by adding a second shift.
“With the right partner, we could quickly ramp up our production, sales and marketing.”
Last month, GreenGym gained national exposure and a $200,000 investment from the Herjavec Group during an appearance on CBC’s Dragon’s Den.
Many local businesses and organizations have endorsed the MyFitCity project, including the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Halifax Partnership, Halifax Fusion, Stepping Up Halifax, the Halifax International Airport Authority, Impact Communications Group and Thompson & Sutherland Wholesalers and Distributers.
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