NEWS STORY: JANUARY 2008

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Northwards in the news

Come and have a go if you think you're old enough!

picture of older people in a play area
Oldest swingers in town? The play area is a great way to keep fit and meet people.

Residents in Dam Head, Blackley are proving you're never too old to play - with the country's first Older People's Play Area!

The Dam Head Residents Association (DAMRA) and the Friends of Dam Head Park were inspired by a playground in Germany which is specially designed to help older people keep fit and healthy.

And we were pleased to come up with the cash to put the play area into Dam Head park. It was built close to the under-fives playground, so grans and granddads can have some fun of their own. The site will be maintained by Manchester City Council.

Great fun

Joan Fitzgerald, chair of DAMRA and Pam Angelucci are already regular visitors. "It's great fun," said Joan. "We had such a giggle using the equipment. I'd recommend anyone to come and have a go; after all you're never too old to play."

The playground's six pieces of equipment are all simple to use, and designed to gently exercise different parts of the body. They include:

  • massage: exercises the upper body
  • skate: trains the leg muscles
  • ski: strengthens the hips
  • press: tones the stomach and legs

Two more areas strengthen the upper body and give a gradual lower body warm-up. Some parts are accessible to wheelchair users.

Regular light exercise like this is a great way to keep fit and healthy, and a good way to socialise too.

Successful campaigns

DAMRA are famous for their successful campaigns and have contributed much to life in the area with things like children's play areas and gardening projects. This is the first time they have used their expertise for the benefit of older residents.

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