Public street fitness park opens on 7MB

| 21/03/2022 | 27 Comments
  • Cayman News Service
  • Cayman News Service
  • Cayman News Service
  • Cayman News Service

(CNS): Government officials opened the Calisthenics Park last week on crown land at the Seven Mile Public Beach. The 5,575 sqft outdoor fitness facility, which is open to the public, was donated by local businessman Phillip Schlossstein and will be maintained and managed by the Cayman Islands Government. Calisthenics is a form of strength training through street workouts.

At the opening there were live demonstrations by three world-champion street athletes, Jay Chris, Sophie Brace and Tony Gastelum, who also facilitated a series of free training workshops for local sports and physical therapy experts during their stay.

Schlossstein, originally from Germany and the owner of the investment company Schlossstein Capital, said it was a “community square” for all to enjoy.

“We are enormously privileged to live in a country with peace, stability, the rule of law and freedom of expression, amongst many other things. I make no secret that I feel passionate about encouraging wealthy people and companies who call Cayman home to contribute to raising the quality of life for all people,” he said.

“To those who may be harbouring similar private initiatives for the public good, talk to the relevant departments of the Cayman Islands Government as they are open for business. The CIG has been timely, goal-oriented, cooperative and pragmatic. I am grateful for their support and look forward to future projects towards making this community an even better place to live, work and raise a family,” he added.

Health and Wellness Minister Sabrina Turner said, “COVID-19 has changed the way we think about health overall. When we were constricted to our homes, persons found simple ways to move their bodies – mostly through calisthenics. By adding this park to one of our most-visited public spaces, we are continuing this enhanced culture of health and wellness here in the Cayman Islands.”

With the park site located on crown land, oversight for the project was assigned to the Ministry of District Administration and Lands, with consultation provided by the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure (PAHI).

The minister for lands, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, said Schlossstein never asked for waivers and special dispensations and he produced what he has promised in a transparent, people-driven and timely manner.

“We are very grateful and appreciative of Phillip’s contribution. The successful delivery of the Calisthenics Park, by way of good public-private partnership, epitomizes our mantra of ‘Community makes Country’,” O’Connor-Connolly said, as she challenged other members of the community with similar resources to follow suit by investing in the community and nation-building.

Schlossstein has also committed to the construction of a second facility of its kind in Cayman Brac. Construction of the second facility will commence after a period of observation of the Grand Cayman facility.

As part of the opening of the facility, the two top male and female athletes from eleven government schools participated in a series of challenges at the park, including pushups, hang tests, rows and the use of blaze pods. Trainers from the Rec Room Gym led the challenges with the visiting street workout athletes.

Brian Walpole, the challenge coordinator and manager of the Rec Room Gym, said the level of ability of all the students who took part was impressive, as was their athleticism, keenness to learn, and willingness to take part.

“There are some promising athletes in the group,” he said. “I think calisthenics will add a lot to the community as kids will have this free-to-use space so that they can use and take part whenever they want.”

Students also enjoyed the challenges that tested their strength and reaction speed. Micah Leon, a Clifton Hunter High School student and gymnast, said she was excited to be a part of the challenges and to win the pushup competition.

“It feels like the hard work and upper body strength that I have been doing at gymnastics is paying off,” she said.


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Category: Community, Local News, Sports

Comments (27)

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  1. Orlando says:

    It looks great, I imagined that they were going to use those machines that use your own body weight to exercise.. never the less, its a great place to get fit and healthy.
    Most government staff and MP should be using this because CIG is the most obese set of people I have ever seen and that included the premier!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Well done Phillip – a genuinely lovely guy who who is a great addition to the Island.

    Funny seeing cynicism from some on what is a great gesture / new facility; some people could find the negative in a cure for cancer.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Besides a kid wearing a facemark outdoors what is the first thought that came to your mind?

    Where is covering that protect this outdoor facility from direct 🌞 sun exposure 🥵?

    Airy and open wooden slats shade for example, offers relief from the hot tropical sun. When positioned correctly to block the most incoming sunlight, slats create just the right amount of shade and can be a good solution in the Caribbean heat.

    I was visiting Punta Cana resort and every walkway from one building to another is covered.

  4. Anonymous says:

    thank you again…private sector.

  5. Anonymous says:

    #buildouricerink

  6. Anonymous says:

    No Weed, No Vote

  7. tom says:

    Very curious; who are the 7% who voted ‘Angry’ at this story. A wealthy individual donates something to the community, doesn’t ask for anything in return, and encourages others to do the same. The haters astound me.

    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe those people believe that it is the Gov responsibility to provide these facilties rather than a rich benefactor?

      Our Gov would rather pedestrianise a street to benefit a handful rather than do something to benefit the many.

    • Anonymous says:

      Surely, conditioned skeptics that have been here long enough to have seen a few big flex donations followed by the later business motive reveals and/or CIG dereliction. So many other “nice guys”, donating squash courts or the cheapest park equipment: what could possibly be the motive with these guys? Maybe nothing, but maybe something. Phillip Schlossstein has at least gifted the CIG yet another facility and administrative burden to predictably and rapidly derelict. We’ve seen this sad movie many times before.

    • Anonymous says:

      that 7% much be the ones that assume that everything new is dart and we all know how its easy to hate him lmao

  8. Anonymous says:

    Every park on the island needs one of these!!

  9. Anonymous says:

    I’m sure he will receive some benefit whether directly or indirectly, but at least he added something to the community. A lot of ppl on island who are in the same position. haven’t. Local and expat

  10. Anonymous says:

    Dross

    • Anonymous says:

      The beauty of doing nothing is that you can do it perfectly. Only when you do something is it almost impossible to do it without mistakes. Therefore people who are contributing nothing to society, except their constant criticisms, can feel both intellectually and morally superior

  11. Anonymous says:

    Oh good, something else for the little punks and crackheads to destroy. I give it six months, max.

    • Anonymous says:

      Where are the little punks and crackheads currently destroying things?

      • Anonymous says:

        Ask the Parks and Cemeteries Unit.

        • Anonymous says:

          you mean the unit that doesnt even take care of their own stuff???? lmaoooo
          the parks that are government kept alllll look like ass becuase no one cares. (i.e. airport park looks like i would find crack needles in the sand its so run down vs dart park on south sound… hmmmmmmm)
          All the cemeteries look like a stephen king set and thats NOT because of “little punks” lmao

    • Anonymous says:

      lmao yay for positivity you grinch

  12. Anonymous says:

    Would be great if they could up date the shower facilities next. Great to see the community is taking the lessons learnt from covid and making it easier to be outdoors and active. Let’s aim for these type of developments or site in each district

    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah like maybe a little more private so creeps don’t video you and send it to CMR to post on their platform.

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