A local park in Manchester has added a playground. That wouldn't normally make the news but what is different about this revolutionary new playground is that is specifically designed for pensioners.

Taking its inspiration from a similar development in Germany, the Older People's Play Area is designed to help strengthen hips, tone leg and stomach muscles and work the upper body. The local residents association on the Dam Head Estate in Blackley set up the playground after listening to requests from older residents and obtaining funding from Northwards Housing.

Costing £15,000 the park was tested by a group of pensioners all aged over 70 before opening to the public in late January. The specialised equipment is designed to give pensioners a gentle work-out, and wheelchair users can also make use of some of the equipment.

Sprightly pensioners have the choice of a pedalling machine, designed to strengthen the heart and increase circulation, a pole for stretching, and pull-up and stepper machines. The 76-year-old chair of the Dam Head residents' association Joan Fitzgerald is delighted that the park has been opened and insists that it's great fun. She firmly believes that people are never too old to play and hopes that many older people from North Manchester and not just Dam Head residents will be attracted to the park.

Treasurer for the residents association, 79-year old Grace Choultarton insists that come rain or shine she'll use the playground every day. She is happy that older people have benefited from a residents' association initiative for once, as youngsters normally get all the attention and funding.

Gordon Lishman of Age Concern has visited the playground and would like to see more of them around the country. He believes that having the park on their doorstep will encourage Dam Head's older residents to exercise regularly, and having seen the exercise machines in action is happy that they won't prove too strenuous to use. Lishman is looking forward to an increase in social interaction between the older people on the estate as they use the park more regularly.

The UK life insurance and life assurance industry may well applaud this move, as fitter pensioners mean longer-living pensioners. Indeed, perhaps use of an adult playground will be one of the premium reducing incentives for us all when we compare life insurance policies in the future.

However, whether life insurance companies will see this as a positive move by enhancing older people's lives, or whether they will consider it as an avoidable risk remains to be seen. But, in the meantime the pensioners are making full use of their new facility, and as well as getting fit and toned are having a great deal of fun.

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