Move over monkey bars. Golden Valley's revamped playground has something a bit more thrilling on offer.
The city recently celebrated the opening of the state's first "outdoor fitness challenge course" in Schaper Park, just west of Theodore Wirth Park off Hwy. 55. The course allows kids and adults to race against time — and each other — through a 40-yard dash and an obstacle area.
"It's like the NFL draft combine meets American Ninja Warrior on steroids," said Harlan Lehman, whose company Minnesota/Wisconsin Playground designed the course, referring to the television obstacle course game show.
Participants press a button, wait for the green light, then race across the course as an overhead timer runs. Participants climb, hop or weave through structures spread across the park, including nets, obstacles suspended from ropes and boxing bag-like dummies.
"When you're done, you slam or touch the sensor, similar to American Ninja Warrior … and there up in the air is your time," Lehman said.
The Golden Valley-based company has worked on similar courses in other states, but this will be the first to open in Minnesota. Lehman said a school in Minnetonka has also ordered one.
The course equipment is manufactured by GameTime, based in Alabama, which has also developed an app that allows participants to track progress and compete against each other. The Schaper Park course will also feature a "selfie wall" where people can share their experience online.
"It is for 5-year-olds, all the way to 85-year-olds," Lehman said of the course. "There is no correct way to use it. There's many different ways to use it. It depends on your ability."
