Employee wellness programs are embracing WELL v2 natural wellness concepts with a new movement toward outdoor corporate fitness park design. Outdoor amenities adjacent to workplaces have become hotspots for walking meetings and dedicated lunchtime workouts, as well as places employees can take “brain breaks” for meditation or quiet time.

The rise of the fitness garden concept

Outdoor workouts became a fitness essential in 2020 and 2021. Many remote employees whose corporate gyms were closed took advantage of virtual training options or outdoor workouts. From a simple yoga session on the patio to adopting a whole new sport such as mountain biking, Americans found ways to get outside and get moving, even during lockdowns.

One interesting development was the evolution of home fitness gyms. Craving a change of scenery during long days working from home, the remote workforce began to embrace the idea of an outdoor space with dedicated workout equipment or installations. Surrounded by plants and landscaped around workout needs, these fitness gardens provided the scenery and fresh air people needed to unplug and connect with nature.

Outdoor fitness park design meets corporate wellness

Purpose-built outdoor exercise trails with integrated fitness equipment aren’t a new concept for municipal park design. They’re now also gaining momentum in the corporate wellness space.

Many outdoor gyms are built around a walking or running trail that winds through a carefully planned landscape. Plants at different elevations and with varied flowering seasons provide an element of natural interest and connection, much like the backyard fitness gardens built in the last two years. 

The primary differentiators between a fitness garden and a corporate fitness park are scale, user capacity, and equipment quality or durability. The average backyard doesn’t have the space for a winding running trail and usually only accommodates one person at a time.

Well-designed corporate outdoor fitness parks provide opportunities for many employees to use the park at one time. Permanent fixtures can be as simple as steel balance beams and knee lift stations in concrete foundations, and as intricate as hydraulic leg or chest press stations built to withstand the elements.

Forward-thinking gym design consulting

Any new corporate wellness program or amenity is more engaging when planning involves employee advisors and seasoned gym or fitness center design consultants. Great fitness amenity design strategy is essential for creating an accessible, inclusive, and engaging outdoor gym facility your employees will love and use.

Trust the experts at Aquila to make sure your fitness facility design addresses the needs of your employee population and meets local, state, federal, and WELL v2 standards. Trust Aquila’s more than 25 years of experience providing corporate wellness program and fitness center design consulting and management. Contact us today to learn how Aquila can help your company provide the latest benefits and amenities for employees as they return to hybrid or in-person work schedules. Whatever your population needs, Aquila customizes solutions that add real value to your wellness benefits.