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Original poster

Personal trainer using local park to train clients inside actual playground near children

340 replies

lucindalovescats · 07/08/2020 11:25

I was dumbfounded this morning when I took my children to a big local playground in surrey to find a personal trainer teaching an adult man (who was obviously a client) using the play equipment.

She had large heavy metal dumb bells on the floor next to the swings and stretch equipment and a harness attached to the climbing frame.

It was 0830 am (took the kids early today as it's so hot) but there were already atleast 6-8 children playing with their parents so not empty.

I approached them and calmly said that the equipment was unsafe and was preventing the children from using the swings so could they please leave.

They didnt look embarrassed at all and said they were almost finished anyway.
After 15 minutes the man had left but the personal trainer was still there slowly pacing away equipment without a care in the world.
I must admit I lost my temper at this point and raised my voice to say it was completely illegal and unsafe for her to use the playground in this way and that I would be sending a photo of her to the local council. Not to mention it's a pandemic.

She was very brazen and told me I needed to calm down and take a muscle relaxant.

All the while no other parents said a word to back me up.
Why is that people dont say anything? That upset me as much as the situation did.

Or am I just an uptight cranky mum who needs to keep quiet?

OP posts:
ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress · 07/08/2020 11:53

Just read that the equipment on the ground next to the swings prevented the swings from being used.

How?

I can understand the annoyance about the wotsit attached to the climbing frame, but am a bit nonplussed at something on the ground "near the swings" putting them out of use.

monkeyonthetable · 07/08/2020 11:54

It may well be illegal as lots of playparks say no one over the age of 12 can use the equipment - it's not built to take the weight of an adult. Their use of it could stress the equipment causing it to break later on.

We need more equipment for adults.

JizzPigeon22 · 07/08/2020 11:54

Every park and beach near me are full of PT’s doing boot camps.
You sound like a bit of a dick OP.

enjoyingscience · 07/08/2020 11:54

Public spaces are for public use, whether your're an adult or a child, unless they are specifically marked. Yes, common decency would say that children take priority in the playground, but at 8:30 the PT would reasonably expect there to be few if any kids around.

I'd be far more bothered by teenagers smoking and swearing (and sharing their shite music) that I would be by a person working out.

I think shouting at someone just trying to make a living and being 'dumbfounded' is a way OTT reaction.

Glamazoni · 07/08/2020 11:55

I don’t think it’s nice to prevent the children using the equipment that is intended for them. It’s not there for a private business to make use of. My local playground has a sign that says adults are not permitted unless accompanied by children.

TeaStory · 07/08/2020 11:55

All the while no other parents said a word to back me up.

They were probably cringing with embarrassment.

essexmum777 · 07/08/2020 11:56

here PT's need a permit to use the local parks

Stellakent · 07/08/2020 11:56

You lost it and shouted at her because she was packing up too slowly? I think you need to examine your own behaviour.

Glamazoni · 07/08/2020 11:56

I should have said, I would report to the council and ask them to put up a sign saying no adults without children, fine will be £50. This has ensured that my local playground is available for children and adults aren’t preventing them having access.

Yankathebear · 07/08/2020 11:57

it was completely illegal and unsafe for her to use the playground in this way and that I would be sending a photo of her to the local council. Not to mention it's a pandemic

Did you actually say all of this?
I can’t think why no one backed you up.

Yankathebear · 07/08/2020 11:57

Damn italics

VainAbigail · 07/08/2020 11:58

The other parents were probably eye rolling at you behind your back hence why they didn’t say a word!

You are an interfering busy body. Don’t be that person.

Miljea · 07/08/2020 11:58

Come baaaaaack, OP! 😊

KarenKarendson · 07/08/2020 11:59

I doubt a business would be able to use children's play equipment to run their business tbh. I'd probably get onto the council if I could be bothered. Depends how irritating it was and whether it's going to be a regular thing. I wouldn't have bothered to shout at them though, you're never going to get a good response from people when you're confrontational, regardless if they are in the right or wrong. Let the council deal with it.

MinorArcana · 07/08/2020 11:59

The PT using the playground is a bit cheeky and inconsiderate but I wouldn’t consider it unsafe. And 8:30am is early enough that they’d be away before it could be expected to get busy.

My local Facebook group currently has several angry posts about people (teenagers are being blamed) breaking up glass bottles and sticking them into the grass in the local park and playground. Now that’s unsafe and antisocial.

Cattiwampus · 07/08/2020 12:00

@ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress

Just read that the equipment on the ground next to the swings prevented the swings from being used.

How?

I can understand the annoyance about the wotsit attached to the climbing frame, but am a bit nonplussed at something on the ground "near the swings" putting them out of use.

You mean in case someone booted the adults whilst swinging? Is that a problem?
FedUpAtHomeTroels · 07/08/2020 12:01

The local kids park by us has an age limit for using equipement on the gate when you go in. So unless he was under that age they would be out of line here.

jolokoy · 07/08/2020 12:02

I really feel we all need to collectively row back on this idea that things that might be a bit annoying, or inconvenient, or just require some negotiation between different people once in a while, should be handled by the law.

Spikeyball · 07/08/2020 12:02

The age limit is more about misuse or adults/ teenagers hanging about and anti social behaviour. The equipment will stand the weight of an adult.

1forAll74 · 07/08/2020 12:02

Losing your temper, and sending a photo to the council.? I hope you will chill out for the rest of today, its such a lovely day !!

Stellakent · 07/08/2020 12:03

I've just read Tom Watson's book about losing weight. When he was 22 stone he met his personal trainer in a children's playground at 7.30am for a gentle workout. This may have been something similar.

pinkbalconyrailing · 07/08/2020 12:04

Why is that people dont say anything?

because they don't like confrontation?
because it's not a big deal to them?
because they don't wantbyo get stabbed?

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 07/08/2020 12:05

I’m a PT. she needs a licence from the council to train clients in the park. Nothing stops her from training in the playground though, although I personally wouldn't.

Rainbunny · 07/08/2020 12:06

In my neck of the woods you need a permit to conduct training sessions in public spaces and they would never allow a trainer to take over a kids playground area. I used to do an early morning bootcamp on a basketball court in a public park but I knew the trainer paid for the permit to use it.

I'm surprised more people aren't agreeing with you OP, it sounds like the trainer and client were stopping the children from using the playground equipment.

ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress · 07/08/2020 12:06

No, Catti. I mean the OP said the equipment was on the ground near the swing. Obviously, if anyone using a swing "boots" anyone, they should be immediately removed from the swing.