To expect an outdoor gym to not be used as a playground by children?

[FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop]

Went for a run yesterday and afterwards went into an outdoor gym which is (unfortunately) next to a kids' play park. There are some weights attached to vertical beams, an exercise bike, ropes, cross trainer and markings on the ground for relay runs. Loads of signs saying age 13+ only and children weren't to use it as play equipment.

It was absolutely over run with small kids aged about 4-10 climbing all over it, using the equipment and just generally getting in the way while their parents sat in the play park in clear sight of them doing nothing. When I did manage to use some equipment kids were waiting as if we were taking turns. I'd been on the exercise bike for about 15 minutes with one little girl who was about 6 staring at me...she went to get her mum who actually came and asked if her DD could have a go as she'd been waiting for ages I said no this bike is for adults and they she got all huffy and was all "Never mind darling, the lady won't get off so we'll have to just wait won't we". I was then doing relays on the markings and they were running in front of me nearly knocking into me. I gave up in the end!

Is it really so much to ask that parents tell their children to keep out of adult only areas and stay in the massive park built for children? Want to go again today as it's a great little gym, council spent a small fortune but CBA with all the unsupervised kids.

YANBU, it’s even next to a play park!

Yanbu, the equipment is not for children and as well as getting in the way they can easily get hurt.

Sounds like a great outdoor gym. I've always wanted to use something like this.
There are a lot of parents now who feel to over run and exhausted to actually parent properly. It's annoying but all you can do is carry on as you were. And hope they piss off!

Yanbu, but I have never actually seen an adult want to use those bits of equipment at any of the playparks my kids frequent... (I don't let mine on unsupervised though and would definitely remove them if an adult was in your position).

Sorry to laugh OP but the mental imagery here is hilarious! 😂

Yanbu.

But suggests from a design point of view that the play park equipment isn't challenging or interesting enough.

@UhtredRagnarson

Sorry to laugh OP but the mental imagery here is hilarious! 😂

🤣🤣🤣

I probably did look like the weird one, the only adult among feral children, with a face like a slapped arse stoically refusing to let a little girl have some fun but I shan't be beaten!

YANBU. Really annoying, and I'm guessing you can't use it during the working week, when you'd probably have the equipment to yourself!

Yanbu. If they are genuinely for adults they should be away from the kids play area. Same situation at our park where tbh I have never seen an adult on the equipment but kids are on it all the time.

Yanbu. The adults should have priority on out door gym equipment.

Unfortunately people don’t think the rules apply to them.
I walk past a kiddies play park with a fence all around it. There’s a sign clearly saying ‘no dogs’, yet some of the parents take their dog in and tie them to the fence. They could tie them to the fence outside ( it’s just bars for the fence so you can clearly see the dog) but no, they are special and rules don’t apply.

YANBU we have the exact same set up near me and I have been wanting to use it but it’s right next to a huge, adventure play park. Really don’t understand why they would want to sit on a leg press rather than a pirate ship!!

You are not being unreasonable. It’s really odd behaviour from the mother of that child. We have an adult outdoor gym next to our play park. Complete waste of money because I have never in 5 years seen and adult use it, only kids who should be in the park.

I don’t let my kids on it because I don’t think it’s safe for them. Nothing to do with it being adults only in this case though.

@UhtredRagnarson

Sorry to laugh OP but the mental imagery here is hilarious! 😂

Glad I'm not the only one who laughed 🤣

You have a great way of writing OP!

However you obviously are NBU. No wonder kids are entitled if their parents teach them to be. The audacity of a parent expecting you to get off exercise equipment for their 6yo to "have a go" is utterly mortifying.

My favourite thing to do on situations like this is play dumb and shocked.

My response usually is "I couldn't possibly have knocked over your 5yo/ been using equipment your 6yo wanted a go on because this areas is for children aged 13 and over and adults to exercise. And I've been no where near the play park designed for them which is the only place it would have been possible to have commuted the crimes you've accused me of"

It takes them so long to work out what you're saying and there's not really any answer so they usually give up

I probably did look like the weird one, the only adult among feral children, with a face like a slapped arse stoically refusing to let a little girl have some fun grin but I shan't be beaten!

and nor should you be!

Yanbu but can't see that making any difference.

I'd probably go early or late when fewer kids around. Annoying though.

I’m torn. Prepared to be flamed too....

Normally I’d say YANBU, and I certainly don’t let my DS play on the adult gym equipment BUT for over a year now- until last week- parents have had nowhere to take their kids except the local park. (Where we live we’ve only had a break from lockdown / additional measures for a few weeks all year)

Even the most avid swings and slides enthusiast will be bored of them by now.

Kids have given up an awful lot this year. There have been no classes, no soft play, school closures, no swimming, no travelling, no grandparents, no days out for such a long time...

I understand why you were annoyed, I really do. To be honest though, I’d find it hard to get upset on my own account in the current context.

God I hate this. Until very recently I lived near a park in SE London with TWO children’s playgrounds next to the adult exercise area. The exercise equipment was always covered in kids (mostly toddlers), even though it was clear that quite a few adults were waiting to use the equipment properly. It was so bloody selfish.

@HunkyPunk

YANBU. Really annoying, and I'm guessing you can't use it during the working week, when you'd probably have the equipment to yourself!

I'm off on Mondays which is when I usually use it and hardly anyone is there even in the play park. But kids are at exH's and thought I'd take the opportunity, didn't really expect children on it though

Yanbu but I can see why being near a play park is good as it means parents can exercise instead of sitting around watching (older) children.
You were quite right to carry on as you were, though I must admit my children often go over to have a turn on the exercise equipment. They are under the recommended age but are doing genuine exercises on them and not clambering around on them- and if an adult turned up I’d probably tell the kids to get back over to the park!

One time there was a man using the climbing frame at our park as his own personal gym- it was quite funny as he was very earnestly doing his pull ups and squats etc.

YANBU. I don't know why they always seem to put them next to the playground, it encourages this - both outdoor gyms I know are next to playgrounds. Like a pp I've never seen an adult actually use them and they do just get used as an extension of the playground, I tell DS it's not for playing on but that is quite hard to maintain when they're full of other children playing! It's incredibly rude and wrong not to move the kids and stop them if there is an adult who wants to use the equipment for its intended purpose! It's like when parents of toddlers let them on the skate park - it's so unfair to the teenagers and I don't know why people do it.

Go back and use it op

Don’t give in ;

@OhShitShit

I’m torn. Prepared to be flamed too....

Normally I’d say YANBU, and I certainly don’t let my DS play on the adult gym equipment BUT for over a year now- until last week- parents have had nowhere to take their kids except the local park. (Where we live we’ve only had a break from lockdown / additional measures for a few weeks all year)

Even the most avid swings and slides enthusiast will be bored of them by now.

Kids have given up an awful lot this year. There have been no classes, no soft play, school closures, no swimming, no travelling, no grandparents, no days out for such a long time...

I understand why you were annoyed, I really do. To be honest though, I’d find it hard to get upset on my own account in the current context.

Isn’t the same true for adults though? It is not just children who are bored and frustrated.

Yanbu op. I sometimes let my 8yo use the equipment, but only even there are no adults training properly.

Yes @OhShitShit you should be flamed. Everyone has had to give up things in the last year. Why should everyone bend over backwards for kids as if they take priority for everything?

Adults have had no classes, trips, swimming, seeing family too. Oh and they are also bored too

YANBU

But there are all too many people who think that 'if my child wants to, then they will'

See also playgrounds for the over-8s being colonised by toddlers 'because they love it', leaving the older DC with nowhere to play on equipment with their natural speed and strength.