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

[lucindalovescats]

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?

[unchienandalusia]

God. Thus his what we've become. A nation of deranged small minded tattle tails.

Seriously OP. Unclench.

[AntiHop]

I agree with you op. It's selfish and dangerous for adults to use a children's playground like that. It means the children have to stay away from that equipment and it could get damaged and become unsafe.

Definitely report to the council and challenge her again if you see her there again.

[UnfinishedSymphon]

All you needed to say was "would you mind not using the play equipment now as there are children wanting to use it", I'm sure you would have had a much better response. Telling them that the equipment was unsafe and it was illegal just made you look like a busy body.

They were inconsiderate though but there are ways of talking to people

[Bluepolkadots42]

YANBU in my opinion- I think you were right to say something initially - I probably wouldn't have said anything further once they started packing up.
I think most playgrounds state (or they do in our area) they are for a certain age group- think one we visit says play equipment is for under 13years only and one playground we visit says it is for under 8s only. So firstly, she and her client were likely in contravention of those rule.s
Secondly- it is incredibly selfish of her to be making money and essentially running a business in a space that has been built and provided solely for children.
Finally- it does sound like a H&S issue for her to be bringing gym equipment into a facility where young children are going to be.

I know fitness classes that use public spaces- like boot camps etc. need to apply to council for licence and permission to run them there. Not sure what rules are for PTs- whether they are similar. I would report her to council parks and recs department.

[rosiejaune]

I don't know what laws it would be breaking (maybe bylaws), but I agree it is unsafe and inconsiderate.

It probably voids the play equipment warranty, because even though it's strong enough for an adult to use in the way it was intended, they are not using it in that way (e.g. swinging or climbing).

And dumbbells should not be used around children; they could kill one if dropped on them. Children are not predictable at the best of times, but they should be free to run around in a playground that is specifically for them, without worrying about getting whacked by several kilos of metal.

[Jaxhog]

Not sure how either was put at risk, but PTs have insurance, so if a client is injured, it would be their insurance that would cover that injury.

Not all do, unfortunately, and it wouldn't cover an injured child. It might not even be valid if using 3rd party equipment without permission.

[Cococoin]

told me I needed to calm down and take a muscle relaxant.

Totally stealing this to use if I encounter a Karen. Chill OP. It’s not the end of the world

[Intelinside57]

"Calm down Karen" Well, that's an intelligent comment on a forum mainly populated by women. Maybe educate yourself on why that term is so derogatory.

[PushyMeez]

I actually think it's inconsiderate to hog equipment, and if all you'd done was politely asked them to free it up for others' use, fair enough.

I definitely don't think it's a covid issue and going off on one about things being illegal and threatening to take pics loses you all the high ground. Just weird.

[Drumple]

Oh dear.

[TokyoSushi]

@Redcrayons

Inconsiderate, yes. Illegal, no.

This.

[Midsommar]

You were completely irrational OP to yell at the personal trainer like that. YAB MASSIVELY U.

[FudgeBrownie2019]

You crossed the threshold into U the moment you used the words "completely illegal" and raised your voice. You get nowhere with behaviour like that; my 9 year old shouted at me that making him go to bed one night last week before 9pm was "completely illegal" and was duly sent to bed in disgrace for being so bold. Do you need a lie down, too, OP?

[FourPlasticRings]

They shouldn't have been using the children's play equipment. I'd be surprised if there wasn't a sign with an age limit tbh- I don't recall ever seeing a fenced off play park without one.

[maddening]

Regardless of whether there was an overreaction, pts should not be using equipment for dc for there paid employment, especially where there are dc there waiting to use it. No problem with them doing it on a general grassed area but this is taking the piss

[Jaxhog]

It's also worth noting that the main cause of damage to playground equipment is done by adults. Playground equipment is not designed for big people. Guess who gets to pay for this damage? You do, through your local taxes.

[ChardonnaysPetDragon]

God. Thus his what we've become. A nation of deranged small minded tattle tails.

No, we seem to have become a nation of entitles pisstakers with no regard for anyone but ourselves.

[daisypond]

Would those saying it’s absolutely fine be fine with it if their 11-year-olds went to the playground to play and came back with tales of unknown adults doing exercises in the children’s safe space? I’m baffled that anyone thinks this is OK. PTs need to use adult outdoor gyms or provide their own equipment, and they need a licence from the council if they are using a public park.

[howfarwevecome]

I wasn't swearing IN a playpark, just a MN thread.

[Nanny0gg]

Actually by the swings and slides? Where it's usually only for under 12s?

[cologne4711]

Calm down Karen Please stop this offensive sexist and ageist nonsense.

You may disagree with the OP - in which case say why, don't use lazy insults.

[Cosmos45]

I wish I had phoned ladbrokes before scrolling to page 3. I would have bet my mortgage the OP would not return after reading the original post.. smells like a wind up.

[TheAquaticDuchess]

Is it illegal? What law has been broken?

[Jaxhog]

They can't technically even use the grassed area without permission if they are taking payment for doing so. It's saving them money, so the least they can do is get proper permission.