STATEN ISLAND — Staten Islanders looking to stay in shape might soon be able to ditch their gym memberships.
The city will add outdoor workout equipment to several Staten Island parks by the fall — nearly doubling their availability in the borough — and give the public free access to ellipticals, chest press machines, pull up bars and other fitness features.
The equipment, designed by Landscape Structures, will be placed in Bloomingdale Park, Wolfe's Pond Park and Corporal Thompson Park and be available when the planned Fairview Park opens, officials said.
"While government cannot force people to change their behaviors — we can’t legislate against eating Twinkies — we can take steps to encourage people to take better care of themselves," Borough President James Oddo, who funded the equipment when he took office in 2014, said.
"One of the tools in our toolbox is to incorporate basic fitness equipment into some of our public parks, so that those who are so inclined can incorporate them into their fitness routines.
"Perhaps their availability will allow someone on the cusp of a healthier lifestyle take that first step."
Bloomingdale Park, which got $205,000 to fund the equipment, will get ab crunch leg lift, assisted row, parallel bars and chest and back press machines, the Parks Department said.
"NYC Parks is committed to creating and maintaining viable playgrounds across the five boroughs — not only for children but adults as well," Parks Department spokesman Mario Lopez said.
The Parks Department plans to start work installing the equipment this summer and have it ready by the fall in Corporal Thompson Park and Wolfe's Pond Park. Bloomingdale Park's equipment will be installed next spring, the Parks Department said.
The equipment is also slated to be installed at the planned Fairview Park in Charleston, which was kickstarted back to life with a $4.825 million injection of cash from Oddo and Councilman Joe Borelli.
Fairview Park will have ellipticals, squat machines, chest/back presses, pull up bars, stretch machines, balance machines and parallel bars, according to Oddo.
Work at the $18 million park, which will be adjacent to the planned Charleston Library, and is expected to open in two years, the Parks Department said.
Oddo said he made increasing the health rate of Staten Islanders, the unhealthiest borough in the city, a priority when he took office in 2014 and funded the equipment to help his cause.
However, construction never started and the project remained dormant until this year.
"I wish I could say that Staten Islanders were currently using this equipment but, alas, due to the nature of the broken procurement process, we are still awaiting their installation," Oddo said.
"It is frustrating that a project I funded more than two years ago — one that only involves installing some simple equipment — is taking this long. I can say that at some point this equipment will be in these parks."
