“Fitness” means different things to different people, but when we hear the word, most of us probably envision gym environments, highly structured classes or hardcore routines involving running or weight training. We also might feel some resistance, viewing exercise as yet another item to be added to our already overloaded to-do list.

Have you ever noticed that young children don’t seem to perceive it the same way? They just do it. They move their bodies with exuberance as they explore their worlds, and invent new ones, running, climbing, jumping, swinging and balancing — never once never stopping to think that this movement also means better health.

According to the National Institutes of Health, children’s physical activity drops from age 9 to 15, right around the time we start telling kids they need to exercise for their health rather than for fun. In its report, NIH noted, “At age 9, children averaged roughly three hours of MVPA (moderate to vigorous activity) on weekdays and weekends. By age 15, however, they averaged only 49 minutes per weekday and 35 minutes on weekends.”

Children are far more likely to engage in physical activity when it’s voluntary and unstructured, and especially when it’s shared with family and friends, and this is true for all of us, no matter how old we are. The path to better health should be joyful, social and deeply rooted in play. And that path often begins in public spaces like playgrounds and parks, where fitness and play come together in powerful ways.

Playgrounds: Movement Through Joy

1. Climbing Structures
   Freestanding climbers provide opportunities to improve strength, balance, coordination and flexibility. Young children develop and strengthen their gross motor skills and spatial awareness as they navigate nets, ladders and climbing walls. Older kids benefit from adventure play — larger scale towers, tall climbers and nets keep kids engaged in play and movement. Teenagers can get their movement on outdoor obstacle courses and fitness equipment designed to make exercise more of a game to play than a chore to complete.
2. Motion Play
   Swings and gliders build core stability and vestibular balance. Such play events include swings like the Cirrus^® Swing, the Konnection^® Swing Seat and the swing everyone can play on, the Brava^® Universal Swing.
3. Balancing in Play
   These features are fun for everyone. Imagine balance beams, stumps, boulders, bridges, logs, netting and ropes, all of which allow users to practice body control and focus while also building functional core strength (for adults, this is a valuable way to help prevent age-related falls and injuries). The Taktiks^® Trail Climber is one great example of a fun way for kids to practice balance while working their way through the playspace.
4. Inclusive Whole-Body Play
   Playground equipment like Volta^® Inclusive Spinner, Comet Spinner and rotating climbers, like the Rev8, support coordination and core muscle development. If loose elements like blocks, rocks, planks or wheels are available, people will also engage in similar whole-body play through squatting, carrying, lifting and building. Think of it as functional fitness wrapped in imagination.

When playground designers incorporate age-specific play opportunities in the same destination with proper separation, they can keep entire families engaged. Adding outdoor exercise equipment adds even more opportunities for kids and adults to move together. This is especially important in communities with few active recreation spaces; the playground will become an appealing gathering place for all.

Parks and Trails: Movement Through Exploration

1. Looped Walking Trails
   Walking trails invite people to explore the natural world and enjoy each other along with the fresh air and sunshine. Wide, smooth surfaces accommodate strollers, scooters and mobility devices while benches, hydration stations, restrooms, natural shade and artificial shade structures support longer visits and multigenerational groups. Some trails might even include fitness stations or outdoor musical instruments such as PlayEnsemble^® drums, bongos and xylophones. Children, in particular, will look forward to these fun destinations while they walk or ride.
2. Fitness Outside
   Some parks incorporate outdoor fitness with equipment like the ELEVATE^® Fitness Course. Kids ages 5-12, teenagers, and adults can all get involved and exercise together in this challenging, ninja-like course that brings people of all fitness levels together.
3. Natural Play
   The best part of exploring a park or trail is nature itself: climbing on and over logs, hopping between rocks (or skipping them on the nearest pond or lake), balancing on tree stumps and wading in creeks. Such nature play fosters agility and adaptability, encourages creative risk-taking and supports mental well-being.
4. Open Greenspace
   Large grassy areas in public parks support every imaginable recreational activity, from tai chi and yoga to tag, flag football and kite flying. You can pack a picnic and enjoy a day outdoors with the family or arrange community activities that bring together larger groups of like-minded people.

The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) has found that 85 percent of adults believe parks and recreation are essential to a high quality of life, yet physical inactivity persists among both children and adults. Scheduling time in your nearest park or at your nearest nature trail will help create fun-forward opportunities that bridge the gap between what we value and how we choose to spend our time.

Why Blending Fitness and Play Works

1. Play makes movement intrinsically motivating.
   It taps into our natural desire to move our bodies and explore our environment. In other words, we reconnect with our inner child, who understands exactly what we need to be happy and healthy.
2. It promotes lifelong healthy habits.
   When children associate physical activity with enjoyment, they’re more likely to continue being active as adults. And just as they need unstructured play in an environment that encourages movement rather than mandating it, older youth and adults need places to rediscover what is fun for them in a low-pressure way. Then they, too, will be more likely to sustain it.
3. It encourages family and community engagement.
   Places for intergenerational activity — such as playgrounds with multiple age zones or parks with trails, workout stations and greenspaces — invite families and entire communities to be active together. Caregivers, friends and neighbors become role models simply by participating.
4. It reduces health disparities.
   The costs associated with gyms and fitness classes and the availability of such facilities are significant barriers for many people. Free, accessible and inclusive public spaces help level the playing field, allowing community members of all ages and abilities to experience the joy and benefits of play.
5. It encourages physical literacy.
   According to the International Physical Literacy Association, physical literacy is defined as “the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.” The Society for Healthy and Physical Educators SHAPE America adds that it is “the ability to move with competence and confidence in a wide variety of physical activities in multiple environments.” In short, it benefits the healthy development of the whole person.

Contact your local Burke representative to learn more about designing outdoor spaces in your community!