People visiting Bournemouth beach in the future will be able to do more than lie in the sun and swim as proposals for a free outdoor fitness park have been rubber-stamped.

The proposed Miami-style fitness park will include a dip bench, shaped benches, pull-up bars, a rope climber and push-up bars, among other equipment.

People of all abilities will be able to use the park, which will be built at the bottom of Toft Steps, between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers.

It is hoped that construction work will start towards the end of July and the build will be limited to several weeks with minimal interruption to nearby parking on Undercliff Drive.

Cllr Phillip Broadhead, deputy leader of the Council and portfolio holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration, said: “This fitness park will provide a fantastic community space to support health and wellbeing for residents and visitors.”

An idea for a fitness park was first suggested in 2017. Since then, the Steve Bernard Foundation and the Talbot Village Trust started fundraising for the project, which will cost £30k to deliver.

Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, chairman of Talbot Village Trust, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this project and to offer a grant to the Steve Bernard Foundation for the creation of this fitness park.

“To have equipment such as this available for the public to use freely and at ease is incredibly important in making a healthier lifestyle more accessible for all. The trust is thoroughly excited to see the finished result and we hope it will become an asset to the community.”

Pedestrians will have room to walk past the outdoor gym, once it is in place. The tender for the project was awarded to Kompan in January 2022, and the design aims to be durable and easy to maintain.

Park users will be able to download a Kompan fitness app for free to get general workout programmes while using the fitness equipment.