Relocated children’s play area puts safety first

Photo By Dana Heard | Patrons work out and socialize in the Offutt Field House’s newly relocated Children’s Play Area. The new CPA features all self-propelled exercise equipment that does not require wires or power cords to minimize safety risks to children in the area along with a play area to keep them occupied and active while their parents workout.(U.S. Air Force photo by D.P. Heard)  

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA, UNITED STATES

06.12.2019

Story by Dana Heard 

55th Wing

Offutt Field House staff moved the Children’s Play Area from a spot that interfered with patrons on the running track, to a location which provides patrons with adequate space to get a full workout and is fully self-contained, allowing parents to maintain accountability of children accompanying them.
The new CPA features all self-propelled exercise equipment that does not require wires or power cords to minimize safety risks to children in the area along with a play area to keep them occupied and active while their parents workout.
While the new area decreases the risk of injury for children in the gym, the rule of “Eyes on all the time” remains in effect and parents are still expected to keep their children inside of the play area and with them at all times while exercising.
"Every patron I've talked to has said how much of a positive impact this has had to their fitness goals and that they're able to stay with their children and still be able to utilize all of the equipment that the children’s play area provides," said 2nd Lt. Darryl Weaver, 55th Force Support Squadron sustainment chief.
After touring the facility along with the commander, the fitness center team noticed the workout equipment’s position in the previous CPA did not allow parents to monitor their children well enough while they exercised.
Weaver recalls that in the original spot, he had to look over his shoulder while on the elliptical machine to monitor his children. Now parents will have their children in front of them at all times, no matter what equipment they are using.
“Being a part of running the fitness center, it feels good to be able provide that to the families. Being a parent myself, knowing the hardships that they had before and how much this helps, it really makes me feel great,” said Weaver.
The relocation has eliminated the issue of children entering the running track and being injured. The biggest change has been the addition of a weights area. In the previous location there was no room inside of the play area for parents who use weights.
Weaver also said the parents are really excited about the change and that it is a boost to their workouts since they no longer have to worry about obstructions to monitoring their children while working out.
“The Offutt Field House is the largest fitness centers in the Department of Defense, with the Children's Play Area moved to its new location, we can better serve our families while ensuring the safety and security of our children and patrons,” said Lt. Col. Sherry Graham, 55th FSS commander. “Not only do we pride ourselves on providing state of the art fitness equipment, but we have also provided state of the art playground equipment for our families.”

• Date Taken: 06.12.2019
• Date Posted: 09.27.2019 16:43
• Story ID: 341910
• Location: OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA, US