Kevin Mathie Fitness Park consultation event

Southbourne Overcliff is hosting a public consultation for the new Kevin Mathie Fitness Park on Saturday 18 July, where you can get a first look at the plans for the outdoor space. It's going in at Fisherman's Walk, right next to the children's play area, and the whole thing is meant to be a free, accessible outdoor fitness space for all ages and abilities. If you're in the area and fancy seeing what's being put together, it's a good chance to see the layout before it actually goes in.

The park is named in memory of Kevin Mathie, a close friend and supporter of the Steve Bernard Foundation. Tony Bernard, the foundation's founder, describes it as a fitting tribute to Mathie's commitment to community sport, and the idea behind it is to support healthier lifestyles and improve physical and mental wellbeing. It's not a brand new concept for the town, either: the scheme takes its inspiration from the Geva Mentor Fitness Park at Toft Steps, which opened back in 2022.

That's part of a much larger body of work from the Steve Bernard Foundation, which has been running since 2006. Over the years, they've raised more than £800,000 and supported over 600 sporting projects across the region, so this park is one more addition to that list. The consultation is your chance to see how this one fits into the picture.

It's all happening at Southbourne Overcliff on Fisherman's Walk in Bournemouth on Saturday 18 July, and it's free to attend.