Oakfield Park’s outdoor gym refurbished

South Swindon Parish Council has refurbished Oakfield Park’s outdoor gym.

The move follows the transfer of the management of the area from Nationwide earlier this year, and included reinforcing the ground in areas where it was previously unstable, upgrading the equipment with brand new pieces and laying down new rubber flooring.
The work is now complete and the newly renovated gym is open for residents and ready to use.
Cllr Pat Herring, Chair of the Assets Working Party, said: “The Parish has been delighted to work with Nationwide to bring this community space to life.
"The new equipment is a great new facility for Oakfield residents, and a great addition to the facilities we've been improving across the Buckhurst area.”
Oakfield is a non-profit, sustainable housing estate initially developed by Nationwide in 2017 and completed in early 2026.
The on-site play area and nearby outdoor gym were opened in August 2023. South Swindon Parish Council had previously been contracted by Nationwide to maintain the play area.
In March 2026, Nationwide agreed to transfer the management of Oakfield Park to the parish council in order to ensure that the area is well maintained for the long term.
The transferred site includes the play area, outdoor gym, and connecting green space.
The parish council received £175,000 from Nationwide as part of the transfer, as well as an additional £33,501 to complete outstanding works, including refurbishing the outdoor gym and replacing dead trees around the perimeter of the site.
Ahead of the completion of the refurbishments, Walcot Councillors Jocelina D’Souza and Saleh Ahmed met with Nationwide representative Jason Hinkson and South Swindon Parish Council Deputy CEO Matt Leather.
Cllr Jocelina D’Souza said:“The council is grateful for the opportunity to engage with Nationwide early in the planning stage, which has allowed us to influence the design, negotiate a maintenance contribution and take ownership of the area so that we can maintain this valued community space to the same high standards as our other parish facilities.”
The gym now provides an accessible outdoor area for residents to stay active in.
South Swindon Parish Council says it will continue to maintain Oakfield Park, with further improvements expected later this year, as part of the Parish Council’s work to enhance the quality of life for residents and build strong communities.