Community gym upgrade in Wigan
Friends of Stockley Park in Wigan installed new gym equipment, benches and planters and are rolling out group walks and open‑gym sessions to boost accessible strength work for all ages Wigan Today. It’s a good example of local investment making resistance training more community‑friendly — useful if you travel and like to keep strength sessions consistent.
Friends of Stockley Park was set up by Laura Koskinas and Sarah Stephenson, who led the revival work over a two‑year push to transform the previously neglected green space. (wigantoday.net) The upgrade programme received backing from Wigan Council and the group are listed as beneficiaries on the Co‑op’s Local Community Fund, which helped pay for fixtures and activities. (wigantoday.net) Team GB rugby‑sevens Olympian Daniel Bibby officially opened the park’s outdoor gym in a launch event that featured the Friends’ founders and local volunteers. (wigantoday.net) A regular timetable was established: the Friends run a Friday 10:00am walking group and a women‑only walk on Tuesday evenings, both publicised by Wigan Today in February 2025. (wigantoday.net) The wider walking programme is listed with Ramblers wellbeing Walk & Talk sessions (Stockley Park, WN6 9LA), which shows multiple scheduled dates through 2025–2026, signalling ongoing community activity. (ramblers.org.uk) Other recent installations include a free book exchange added in February 2025 and additional planters funded via Grass Roots of Wigan, each recorded by local outlets during the park’s phased improvements. (wigantoday.net)
