Outdoor Fitness Equipment: Exploratory Research on Carleton University’s Campus

Analyzing the green space on campus for Outdoor Fitness Equipment, we determine which areas best suit user needs. We discovered desirable attributes like diversity of use, accessibility, and being outdoors. Eventually, using co-design, ideas converged to a circuit configuration around campus. This combines aerobic and anaerobic activities and is accommodating to all users.

Research Questions

  1.  What needs could an outdoor gym meet, beyond Healthy Workplace Carleton?
  2. Is it possible to meet current health standards within a reasonable time period using outdoor fitness equipment?
  3. Who are the main users of outdoor fitness equipment? Is this reflected by the population at Carleton?
  4. When are the peak periods of use for outdoor fitness equipment?
  5. What types of outdoor fitness equipment will best suit the needs of users at Carleton?
  6. Where is the best location on campus to benefit the maximum number of users?

Data Collection

Heron + Stanley Park, Ottawa ON

The group split up to observe two different outdoor fitness parks around Ottawa. We got a sense of how popular they are, the ways in which they are used, and current equipment layout.

SOPARC is a research tool to assess parks and recreational area activity. We used this method to assess seven different areas at Carleton to determine what the popular areas of use were, and how they were used.

Results

These results refer to how the spaces around campus were used during data recording

Synthesis

Stakeholders Analysis, Requirements, Affinity Diagram

Affinity Diagram

Evaluation

Ideation, Mind-mapping, Co-design

Outdoor Fitness Equipment at Carleton Mind Map- Pro

Outdoor Fitness Equipment at Carleton Mind Map- Con

Co-design Session

OFE could be useful to a range of users. People are sensitive to location, visibility, difficulty, and temperature. In order to accommodate these needs users discussed the potential for an exercise circuit on campus. Offering the best variety, users could enjoy a range in difficulty and duration. More exploration is needed for equipment, location, and OFE signage.

Lindsay McCauley, Dawson Clark, Victoria Smith