Canada/Free sports equipment in 50 Ottawa parks
A new pilot project set up by the City of Ottawa makes it possible to rent sports equipment free of charge in 50 city parks (new window) [external link] thanks to self-service lockers accessible free of charge via a mobile application.
According to a City memo, the program offers residents free access to various sports equipment, including basketballs, volleyballs and Frisbees. The lockers were installed at the end of September.
Anyone wishing to use the lockers must download the Equip Sport app onto their phone. The app asks users to take a photo of the locker before and after each rental.
The program is the result of a partnership between the city and Swiss company Equip Sport, funded by Canadian Tire's Jumpstart Foundation.
Jumpstart President Marco Di Buono explains that this new initiative came about when Equip Sport, which was already managing the program in several European cities, approached the City of Geneva. the program in a number of European cities, approached Jumpstart about expanding to North America.
It hopes to set up the program in eight to ten cities across Canada. Thirty lockers have already been installed in Surrey, British Columbia, and Jumpstart plans to add more in Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and other cities.
We were happy to partner on this project to ensure that it would be cost-neutral for the municipalities that would be committing here in Canada," he explained.
Breaking down barriers and building community
Di Buono is enthusiastic about the project, as it helps to make physical activity more accessible and spontaneous.
It addresses many of the barriers that children have reported to us as preventing them from participating in sport, primarily cost and access to facilities and/or equipment," he enumerated.
Frances Mercer, Executive Director of the Ottawa Sports Council, which represents the local community sports sector, welcomed the initiative and said it could help strengthen the sense of community.
By installing this equipment in parks, fields and public spaces, we can show what sport can do. It brings joy, improves mental health and creates bonds," she emphasized. Beyond the barriers of cost, it also opens up different opportunities to be inspired by sport and what it can bring to families, friends, communities and neighbors.
In the first five days after the lockers went live in Ottawa on September 26, more than 1,300 loans were registered, according to Di Buono.
After a year, the plan is to review the usage data collected and determine whether existing lockers need to be re-located or whether additional lockers should be installed in the area, he said.
The City's memo adds that, in the future, a wider variety of sports equipment could be introduced into the lockers.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/
