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Gym nearing completion in Parksville Community Park

Marathon Surfaces spent the week laying a special porous rubber surface
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Ben Willms of Marathon Surfaces pour the base layer of recycled tires around new outdoor exercise equipment in Parksville Community Park.

The Parksville Lions Club's outdoor fitness gym equipment has been installed in Community Park and the ground around it is getting a recycled tire surfacing this week as the project nears completion.

Lions building chair Duane Round explained they switched equipment suppliers last year when there was trouble with their initial company. After a survey of all the options with city help they found Triactive out of California and got a better deal and — he said — better quality equipment installed for them.

The club has planned and fundraised for the $75,000 project for several years and hope to hold a formal opening June 15 for the new gym beside their famous Ventureland playground.

They installed 10 pieces with numerous possible exercises, and laid the concrete foundations for two future additions.

Marathon Surfaces spent the week laying the special porous rubber surface which starts as shredded tires and is poured in place like concrete with a bonding agent.

Round said a Tire Stewardship of B.C. grant helped pay for the surface, which is a bit more expensive than other options but last longer with less maintenance and is wheelchair and walker accessible, unlike sand or other soft surfaces.

They also poured the rubber surface for two new playground features, last year's space net and a wheelchair swing to be installed later, as well as spraying a non-slip rubberized paint on the water park concrete.