Shape Up At This Neighbourhood Parkette!
If you've walked down Cecil Street sometime over the last couple months you probably noticed something a little out of the ordinary. The playground on the corner of Cecil & Huron has recently undergone a makeover; colourful new fitness equipment now line the street in front of the large non-descript brick building that tastefully disguises a Hydro One transformer station.
The Cecil Street Parkette was renamed in honour of Julius Deutsch, the local labour movement and social justice activist who passed away last February after a battle with cancer. A ceremony was held on September 2nd when the sign bearing the park's new name was unveiled. Funding for the fitness equipment was provided by all three levels of government as a part of 'Canada's Economic Action Plan' to build and renew community recreation facilities.
The outdoor equipment includes a play area for children, rowing machine, butterfly weight machine, eliptical trainer, and a set of Tai Chi spinners. At first glance I had no idea what that last one was but thankfully, each piece of equipment is fitted with a small informational plaque. It's not exactly a replacement for a gym membership but the updated park is a novel idea that grabs your attention; I've noticed many other passers by, usually looking a little bemused, hop on a machine for a few quick reps before carrying on their way.
The next time you visit the library, consider a short stroll down to Huron & Cecil for a little outtdoor workout before the snow starts to fall.
One thought on “Shape Up At This Neighbourhood Parkette!”
China has these in most parks and playgrounds too! I thought it was unusual at first, but now that Toronto has one, it’s not so awkward anymore.