WORK has started on a new free outdoor fitness park at Bournemouth seafront ahead of opening later this year.

The diggers arrived at Boscombe beach on Tuesday, September 20, to begin building the new outdoor gym for people of all abilities.

As reported, BCP Council’s plans for a fitness park near Tofts Steps at Undercliff Drive were given the green light by the local authority’s planning department in June.

The outdoor gym, which will include a dip bench, shaped benches, pull-up bars, a rope climber and push-up bars, among other equipment, will be built at the bottom of Toft Steps between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers.

Bournemouth Echo: CGI of eventual outdoor fitness park between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers. Picture: BCP CouncilCGI of eventual outdoor fitness park between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers. Picture: BCP Council (Image: BCP Council)

It is hoped the park, which was funded by the Steve Bernard Foundation and the Talbot Village Trust at a cost of around £30,000, will be officially opened in early November.

BCP Council led delivery of the park and will take responsibility for its maintenance.

Councillor Phillip Broadhead, BCP Council’s deputy leader and member for development, growth and regeneration, said: “This fitness park will provide a fantastic community space to support health and wellbeing for residents and visitors.

“It’s also a welcome asset to our award-winning seafront, providing yet another reason why the BCP region is the very best to work, live and visit.”

The Toft Steps area will be further enhanced later this year by the development of Toft Steps Beach Box Park. This has been funded by Towns Fund, a government initiative which awarded BCP Council nearly £23 million to help turbo charge their regeneration of Boscombe.