Saturday 12 July 2014

Free running facility officially opened in Chelmsley Wood

FACILITY: It is hoped the free running facility will give young
people in Chelmsley Wood more to do.
AN OUTDOOR obstacle course – tailor-made for a daredevil sport - has been officially opened in Meriden Park.
The “free running” facility has been purpose-built to give young people a place to practice their hobby.
It is hoped that the equipment will reduce anti social behaviour at the nearby shopping centre, with police officers receiving powers to move youths out of the precinct and into the park.
Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Kate Wild, opened the obstacle course last week and said it would bring huge benefits to the local community.
“It will give our local young people the opportunity to remain active and enjoy a unique hobby in one of the borough’s beautiful parks.”
Free running, or parkour as its sometimes known, is best described as “urban acrobatics” and involves running, climbing or jumping from one place to another as quickly as possible.
It started in France some 30 years ago, but its profile rose in this country with the release of a BBC advert in the early noughties. The 90 second trail involved a man scrambling over rooftops to avoid the rush hour traffic.
Solihull’s youth services previously ran sessions in 2011 and they proved so successful that it was decided to create a permanent facility in Chelmsley Wood.
The project involved Solihull Council, CAFÉ (Community Action in Fordbridge) and local schools.

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