Project Overview
Project name: Beattock Outdoor Gym
Organisation/group: Kirkpatrick Juxta Community Council
Location: Beattock, Dumfries and Galloway
Grant awarded: £9,814 (£1,250 returned as unused) We had 2 grants of the same amount 1 from the Clyde part of the Fund and 1 from the Minnygap side
Date of Grant Award: May 2022
Theme/priority area: Development of outdoor space for health and wellbeing
The community need
Beattock is a small rural community with limited recreational facilities beyond its children’s playpark. A 2016 Community Action Plan for Moffat and Beattock identified recreation, health and community-led development as key priorities for the area’s future. Two clear objectives were to create safe and pleasant spaces with more activities for young people, and to maximise the use of community-owned assets.
While the existing playpark was well used by younger children, there were limited opportunities for adults, older children and people with disabilities to engage in outdoor exercise locally. Parents and carers often had little to do while supervising children at the park.
With increasing local authority budget pressures and reduced capacity for new facility investment, the community recognised an opportunity to enhance the park through accessible outdoor gym equipment — creating a shared space for families, improving wellbeing, and encouraging more active lifestyles.
The Project
With support from the Annandale and Nithsdale Community Benefit Fund, Kirkpatrick Juxta Community Council installed a range of outdoor gym equipment within Beattock Playpark in late spring/summer 2022.
The project delivered:
- Six pieces of equipment for adults and a further six for children (12 stations in total)
- Inclusive features, such as wheelchair-accessible arm exercise equipment
- A variety of gym equipment, such as an alpine walker and a horse rider
The equipment was supplied and installed by Broxap, with a 25-year guarantee and very minimal maintenance requirements.
Kirkpatrick Juxta Community Council owns and manages the playpark — a unique position for a community council — and works in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council, which carries out safety inspections and grass cutting. The project was shaped through consultation with local residents and Beattock School pupils.
The difference it made
The outdoor gym has significantly broadened the appeal and accessibility of Beattock Playpark.
By locating the gym equipment in one central area, families can now exercise together, strengthening both physical well-being and social connection. Adults can actively participate while children play, rather than sitting on the sidelines.
The project has:
- Created inclusive exercise opportunities for children, adults and disabled users
- Enhanced one of the community’s key assets
- Encouraged walking and cycling to the park from Beattock and neighbouring Moffat
- Promoted health, fitness and family recreation in an outdoor setting
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many local residents trying the equipment and incorporating it into their regular routines. While some initial scepticism was expressed about the level of resistance compared to indoor gym equipment, the community consensus has been strongly supportive.
The gym will remain in place for many years, providing long-term benefit until the equipment eventually requires decommissioning.
Voices from the community
Hazel Dutton, Kirkpatrick Juxta Community Council, said: “The outdoor gym has added real value to our local community, especially at a time when council budgets are stretched and facilities are harder to deliver. It means parents can join in while their children play, and it’s something we simply wouldn’t have been able to achieve without community benefit funding. The Fund provides communities like ours with the opportunity to take ideas forward and make lasting improvements for everyone.”
Looking ahead
The outdoor gym is now a permanent feature of Beattock Playpark and will continue to be maintained by the Community Council, working alongside Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Future plans include developing a picnic area to further enhance the space as a hub for community gathering and recreation. The project has strengthened the Community Council’s confidence in managing and improving its assets, including the nearby Heritage Park, which has been community-owned since 2002, and other local facilities.
The success of the project has reinforced the importance of local people contributing ideas that address health, recreation and environmental priorities.
Why Annandale and Nithsdale Community Benefit Fund matters
Community benefit funding plays a crucial role in enabling rural communities to deliver improvements that would otherwise be beyond reach.
For Kirkpatrick Juxta Community Council, the Fund provided accessible and responsive financial support that enabled the outdoor gym project to move from idea to reality. It filled a gap at a time when local authority resources are constrained and empowered the community to invest in its own wellbeing.
Find out more
Kirkpatrick Juxta Community Council: www.kjcc.info