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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Personal trainer using the playground as a gym

171 replies

ArtichokeAardvark · 13/05/2019 13:02

I don't think I was bring unreasonable here, but happy to be told otherwise...

Took DS to the playground this morning. As I arrived, I spotted a personal trainer and his client working out in the soft sand area. I looked around and couldn't see a buggy nearby, so it wasn't a new mum trying to get back in shape. He had left a kettle bell lying around right by the entrance to the park where it could easily be tripped over.

I watched crossly for a while, until they got one of those plastic sports skipping ropes out - those things whip through the air and could have really hurt a child if it caught them. I figured enough's enough, so went over and asked them to leave. The trainer got very defensive, said he uses the playground a few times a week and no-one else has ever complained. He likes the soft rubber flooring and using some of the kids play equipment for his sessions. He then said he wasn't endangering any children (he shut up when I pointed out the kettle bell lying around) and that the other mums there at the time didn't mind. Eventually, they left.

Was I right, or being precious? The playground is in the middle of a big common, which even has another area with free outdoor gym equipment. Surely it's inappropriate to have heavy weights lying around where toddlers are running riot? However he's right that the other mums had just been ignoring him.

OP posts:
Vulpine · 13/05/2019 16:51

Given the problems with obesity etc in our society, any one taking responsibility for their own health and getting off their arses and exercising should be encouraged. I'd happily share the playground.

thirdfiddle · 13/05/2019 16:52

2. I’m sure the person you confronted is a tax payer and had just as much right to use public equipment as the next person.
That doesn't make sense. Schools are paid for by taxes, does that mean I have as much right as the next person to pop into the local secondary school if I fancy taking an extra GCSE? The facility is provided for children, the rules on the gate say for children. Just because it's not policed doesn't mean you're actually entitled to use it.

anothernotherone · 13/05/2019 16:52

Pinkyyy There was a sign saying no adults unaccompanied by children. The adults unaccompanied by children had no right to be there

Pinkyyy · 13/05/2019 16:55

Thank you @anothernotherone I read it as no children unless accompanied by an adult by mistake. That does change things but to be honest I'm still not sure I'd feel comfortable asking a stranger to leave.

RaptorWhiskers · 13/05/2019 16:59

there is a sign up outside saying no adults unless accompanied by a child
He shouldn’t be there then. YABU to ask him to leave though, I wouldn’t risk my personal safety like that.

Vulpine · 13/05/2019 17:02

Although they're less likely to be a burden on the nhs

Yabbers · 13/05/2019 17:07

dog walkers and so on.
Councils targeting professional dog walkers using parks? Really?

anothernotherone · 13/05/2019 17:08

The NHS is completely irrelevant - the play area is in the middle of a huge park including an adult gym equipment area. Using the fenced off area signposted as not for adults unaccompanied by children won't Ake them less likely to use the NHS!

RussianSpamBot · 13/05/2019 17:08

2. I’m sure the person you confronted is a tax payer and had just as much right to use public equipment as the next person.

Out of interest, if I as a taxpayer wanted my children aged under 12 to be able to use the gym equipment for playing and generally behaving in the manner in which young children tend to behave in playparks, would that right also apply? It seems to be that it makes more sense for the two groups to have separate and dedicated areas, but if one has the right to use the other's, the principle would apply across the board?

Vulpine · 13/05/2019 17:10

it a good thing for kids to see people exercising - why on earth can't you share the space

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 13/05/2019 17:13

dog walkers and so on.
Councils targeting professional dog walkers using parks? Really?

Some parks in Wandsworth, The Royal Parks, you need a license. I'm sure other places as well.

anothernotherone · 13/05/2019 17:13

Vulpine the fenced off play area was signposted as not for adults unaccompanied by children. Children can see people exercising on the other side of the fence, they've no right to be in the children's sand preventing the children playing there.

Vulpine · 13/05/2019 17:15

It's not a huge misdemeanour though. Either let the kid get in the sand pit with the exercisers or wait till they're finished. Can't you just rub along together

Vulpine · 13/05/2019 17:16

My kids used to join in

Loopytiles · 13/05/2019 17:19

OP has mentioned that there was a sign up saying no adults without an accompanying DC, so he shouldn’t have been there.

Bet he doesn’t have the right insurance either, eg if he or his client accidentally harmed a child or carer, or his client was injured.

Loopytiles · 13/05/2019 17:21

He was not just a citizen using the space for his own health: he has a business.

Vulpine · 13/05/2019 17:23

Great. Kudos to him.

Loopytiles · 13/05/2019 17:25

Sure, if he had the correct insurance and approvals, which he clearly didn’t as the park has a policy of no adults without an accompanying DC in the playground.

TheBrilloPad · 13/05/2019 17:29

Hope the attached pic works!

I understand your pain OP. Our local park has a Personal Trainer run classes three mornings a week (including Saturdays) and they use all the playground equipment for their resistance training (similar to pic)- it's insane. He just tells kids they have to wait their turn as the adults are having their turn first.

I've never bothered complaining because I know nothing would be done.

Personal trainer using the playground as a gym
RussianSpamBot · 13/05/2019 17:35

You're very patient not to just let your kids get on the available swings anyway thebrillopad.

GabsAlot · 13/05/2019 17:37

i know wone of thesie playgrounds and spearate gym section-he should have gone there-it says adults only with children so its quite clear

Whoopstheregomyinsides · 13/05/2019 17:39

It’s for children not adults. He shouldn’t have been there in my view and not should kids be in the adult gym area

GabsAlot · 13/05/2019 17:42

brillo report it he tells the kids to wait? its not for him to use in the first place

chimpandzee · 13/05/2019 17:51

I don't think you are being unreasonable OP. I remember the toddler / playground days well, and if the playground bit is gated, and is meant only for adults accompanying children, then he should go somewhere else. The reason the playground area is gated is so you can let your children run around and not have to follow them to keep them within sight or safe, it's a pain to have 2 adults doing a strenuous workout in that enclosed space and no need for it either.

notacooldad · 13/05/2019 17:54

I think the Op is UR in what info we have but in the case of TheBrilloPad I would be sending that picture into parks and recreation department with a complaint.

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