Removing barriers to play: City rolls out free sport equipment lockers in local parks
Getting active in Kingston just got easier. Through a new partnership with Equip Sport and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, the City of Kingston has installed 30 free, self-serve sport equipment lockers to parks across the city, making play and physical activity more accessible for everyone.
At a launch event on June 11, members of Council tested out one of the lockers, playing soccer, football and frisbee with local youth at Molly McGlynn Park.
The lockers house sports and play equipment such as basketballs, soccer balls, frisbees and more, allowing community members to borrow items using the free Equip Sport mobile app. Equipment at each locker is matched to the park’s amenities, so anyone can easily pick up what they need to get active.
This initiative is part of a national rollout of Equip Sport lockers, made possible through support from Jumpstart, a national charity focused on removing barriers to sport and play. In Kingston, this helps expand access to free equipment and makes it easier for families to get active close to home.
“By working with Equip Sport and Jumpstart, the city is expanding opportunities for unstructured play and recreation in neighborhood parks,” said Tony Gargaro, Manager, Recreational Services at the City of Kingston. “These lockers make it easier for residents to be active, try new sports and enjoy Kingston’s public spaces without the need to buy equipment.”
This partnership aligns with the City’s strategic priority of building an active and connected community. You can find the locations of all 30 sport equipment lockers on the City’s website.
About Equip Sport
Equip Sport is a Swiss-based start-up providing free access to sports equipment through connected stations located in public spaces, enabling people to play anytime, anywhere. It operates more than 500 stations in more than 10 countries across Europe, and recently expanded into seven communities across Canada, including Kingston.
The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.
Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.
Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.
