More outdoor gyms could be opened in Croydon
The plan could see areas targeted with higher levels of anti-social behaviour
As part of a borough-wide push to improve its green spaces, Croydon Council is looking to expand its network of outdoor gyms, particularly in areas affected by antisocial behaviour. This comes despite the council acknowledging that the borough’s financial situation means improvements will take time and require strong community involvement.
Croydon is pressing ahead with a series of green space upgrades, despite ongoing budget pressures. According to Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment, Councillor Scott Roche, the aim is to make parks more strategic and inclusive.
Cllr Roche sees tackling antisocial behaviour as part of this strategy, particularly in parks that lack surveillance. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), he suggested outdoor gyms could help deter such behaviour.
“If a park gym is being used properly, you’re not going to have people smoking weed there,” he told the LDRS in Norbury Park last week.
The borough already has ten outdoor gyms, but Cllr Roche believes more are needed in hotspots where drug use and other issues persist. “We think outdoor gyms are a more strategic use for a park. They’re cheaper to introduce than new playgrounds and they help tackle antisocial behaviour,” he added.
The council is now pushing to install more fitness equipment across the borough, particularly in hotspots like Upper Norwood Rec, where residents regularly report anti-social activity. The council also hopes to introduce more dog-walking zones and support personal trainers to encourage active, positive use of park spaces.
Cllr Roche was speaking at a ribbon-cutting event alongside Mayor Jason Perry to open the newly resurfaced path in Norbury Park. The park remains affected by e-bike misuse and unlawful rough sleeping, issues the council is trying to address.
While speed bumps have been promised to deter cut-through riding, Cllr Roche admitted the council is limited in how it can tackle wider behavioural issues. “We are working with the police on this, but we are restricted because it is a public space,” he said.
Croydon has over 127 parks and green spaces, from the hills of Happy Valley to small recreation grounds in the north. While the council is investing in new paths, flood mitigation and improved play areas, Cllr Roche acknowledged that change is slower than he would like.
When asked what the greatest challenge was, Cllr Roche was blunt: “Money… it is frustrating.”
Much of Croydon’s park investment comes from its capital budget and Section 106 (S106) agreements, which secure developer contributions to mitigate the impact of new housing. These funds must be carefully distributed across the borough.
“We have to look at where that money can go, and spread it around,” he said.
If more funding were available, Cllr Roche said he would prioritise new playgrounds, especially those accessible to disabled children. He pointed to the aviation-themed playground at Purley Way Playing Fields as a model he would like to see replicated.
He also praised the borough’s Friends groups for driving grassroots improvements. “Friends groups are the champions of this development,” he said.
Groups like the Friends of Norbury Park serve as the council’s “ears on the ground”, submitting wish lists and applying for external grants unavailable to the local authority. The group, led by Jenni Rodgers, successfully lobbied for the new flood-resistant path to replace one prone to waterlogging.
“It took some years to deliver, but they did what they said they would do,” Rodgers told the LDRS.
While the new path marks progress, Rodgers said the park still needs a defining attraction. “Everybody wants to go to Dulwich, we need something here that people want to see.”
Rodgers and fellow volunteer Lisa Paitent believe reviving the long-stalled Graveney Flood Alleviation Scheme could transform the park and draw more visitors. “It would have been beautiful,” Rodgers said. “It had funding, but after COVID it all just disappeared.”
The Environment Agency’s proposed scheme included flood storage within Norbury Park and restoration of Norbury Brook. It aimed to protect around 340 homes from flooding and boost local biodiversity, but has not advanced since the pandemic.
Despite the setback, the Friends continue to campaign for improvements while leading weekly litter picks to help restore pride in the park.
“We litter pick every weekend, and we don’t struggle for volunteers in Norbury,” Rodgers said. “We’re like wombles, we walk and talk. You can get someone’s whole life story during a litter pick.”
Croydon’s parks were recently awarded four Green Flags for 2025 – double the number received last year. Coulsdon Memorial Garden, Wettern Tree Garden in Sanderstead, Wandle Park, and Happy Valley were all recognised as among the best green spaces in the country.