Exercising in a children's play park at night.

[GlobeUs]

If you saw a lone woman exercising in a fenced children's play park (gate is unlocked at night) would you report it? The park is lit and within a square of houses, but it's a public play area.

I have an exercise plan which requires hanging equipment from a beam / branch and suspending a line between two vertical poles/trees; I am CEV. I have a degenerative illness, and although very slow, I am really keen to get back to my regime for that (and my mental health). It's one of only two things I can do that make me feel I have control over the bastard disease.

I am too scared to go to the woods or larger park at night - the woods are incredibly dark and the park has drug dealers in it (I'm not actually scared of drug dealers, I am just scared about what may happen when the gangs are circling each other).

During the day both are way too busy and when I attempted both before Christmas I had numerous people coming up to ask if they could try it out (particularly the slackline).

My concern is that outside exercise areas here have been closed off, hence what are the chances of being reported?

No trees there - it would just be the support poles and beams, and to be honest, it's the only option I've got that's safe at the moment.

Not going to do any damage, I've checked that bit out now so that's all good!

I wouldn’t report at all, although I am incredibly nosy so might well be having a peep from behind the curtains to see what you were doing!

My concern would be touching things that will have been touched by lots of other people, especially if you’re vulnerable. Also, is it the sort of exercise where there’s the potential to have an accident? You don’t want to be laying on the ground overnight.

@Sn0tnose All safe exercises. Re touching things, I would actually only have to touch the gate and my own equipment - I don't need to touch any of the playground equipment to set up, but I will (and do) take sanitiser and wipes anyway, and I have some gloves too!

I'm just getting to the stage now where shielding is probably going to have a long-term impact on my physical health and I cannot let it go on like this anymore.

I would have no problem with you doing this. The only times I have got cross is when men use the equipment when there are children there and get in the way of children using the swings etc.

The only times I have got cross is when men use the equipment when there are children there and get in the way of children using the swings etc.

Totally understandable - I doubt any kids will come at 9pm but you never know in lockdown, if it did happen I would leave straight away.

Have you let the police know about the drug dealers?

The plan to go out when very few are about is reasonable.

Makes sense to me. I think you've found a good solution to a tricky situation. Go for it!

@peak2021 I haven't let them know personally, but they are aware - there's an operation that's been ongoing for weeks which has involved armed police, raids and arrests - I just don't really want to be around that, or any potential gang violence. May make me sound like a pussy but I have enough to deal with right now.

Do you see many Police Officers around? If so, ask one. If not, you're not in a highly policed area, so I wouldn't worry too much. Even if you got reported, the most they could do is ask you what you're doing. If you're clearly exercising, that's within the law.

No I wouldn't report it! As long as you aren't using any equipment meant for kids which could get damaged then go for it.

It's not like you're just sitting there strangely staring or being a creep!

No, I wouldn't report. If anything, if I walked past a play area and saw someone doing what you describe, I might ask them what they're doing so I could hopefully get some inspiration. I'm always on the lookout for some sort of exercise I enjoy apart from walking.

I don't think you're allowed to do this, or the adult outdoor gyms would be open. But I don't suppose I'd bother to report.

@CandidaAlbicans2 I have a rip off version of a TRX, I like it because I can balance with it (I have balance issues), and do bodyweight exercises outdoors, at my own pace and it uses different muscle to just walking - particularly at the moment where I cannot go swimming.

I can also do as much or as little as I like with it and you can progress through different exercises as you improve so it's quite varied.

Mostly though, it's because I can do it outdoors!

I've seen adults in a playground exercising in summer, sure it is fine! Will you be okay, having to exercise in the dark? Maybe you'll start a new trend.

Depends, if it was 9/10pm I would ignore, if it was 4am I might worry about your safety/mental health.

I can't imagine that you'd do any damage to playground equipment with slackline stuff

@SillyOldMummy So the streets around the square are lit - so it's quite bright, which is why I feel comfortable going there rather than the creepy dark woods. Also, it's overlooked so if I needed to scream I would be heard

No it wouldn’t even cross my mind

I don't know why anyone would report this and even if they did I really don't think the police would come to tell one person to stop exercising outdoors on their own.

As long as you're doing it outside of times when children are using the part (because they should get priority, obv) I don't see the issue. Anyone who bothers has way too much time on their hands!

If it was 4am I might worry about your safety/mental health.

I exercise anywhere from as early as 0300 - I feel that there would be less chance of an unsafe encounter at that time than 9 or 10pm. That said I live rurally and barely see a soul at any time of day, so I am very lucky in that respect. I would rethink for sure in an urban area.

Not too sure why getting up early would give cause for concern for mental health as long as behaviour / dress etc seemed to be consistent with "normal" exercise?