Despite the weather’s best efforts, it failed to disrupt proceedings and it failed to dampen the spirits of the residents around Ashton Park as they celebrated the opening of a new outdoor gym yesterday.
Local sporting heroes joined the official opening ceremony, including PNE’s squad and gold and silver Olympic medal-winning cyclist Jason Kenny.
Even Preston City Council’s Mayor expressed his delight by using the facilities, showing the outdoor gym is fit for people of all ages.
Councillor Albert Richardson declared the new outdoor gym as a blueprint of more sporting facilities to come. He announced his wish to see a further four more adiZone gyms in Preston to the urban east side of Preston.
Around 150 youngsters from neighbouring schools in the local area joined in the celebrations and gave their own seal of approval.
Three local children from Ashton Science Community College who were involved in the application process for Ashton’s adiZone were delighted with the outcome.
In April 2011, Moor Park will have its own outdoor exercise facility and incidentally both adiZone gyms are due to be complete next year, making them the only two in the north west of England. Moor Park is also due to receive a brand new state of the art skate park alongside its new outdoor gym facility.
Adrian Ibbetson, Chair of the Sport and Physical Activity Alliance for Preston, said: “It makes a real connection with the Olympics here in the north west and here in Preston. We should be very proud of the partnership work that brings this together here in Preston. We have got a connection here with the Olympics in Preston.”
Councillor Ken Hudson, Leader of Preston City Council, said: “The adiZones are absolutely fantastic facilities, and I am delighted that Preston has been chosen to host the North West’s first site.
“As well as securing the adiZone, Preston has been chosen to host the UK Corporate Games in 2012, and has been named European City of Sport 2012, making the city a significant part of the London 2012 Olympic celebrations.”
Sporting celebrations will be a major theme during Guild Year as Preston has been named the European City of Sport in 2012.