Free equipment lockers strive to break down barriers to outdoor play

As the screen time epidemic plagues more victims and handheld devices become increasingly common and addictive, encouraging young people to get outside to play is important.

According to PHE Canada, just 37 per cent of children play outside every day, and only 33 per cent of school-aged children meet the recommended 60 to 120 minutes of physical activity per day.

That is in stark contrast to earlier generations, who played outside from after school until it was time to go home for dinner.

But with the allure of cellphone apps and TikTok videos, outdoor play has some tough competition.

The City of Ottawa has partnered with the Swiss-based company Equip Sport to break down some of the barriers to outdoor play.

Founded in 2021, Equip Sport’s mission is to make it easier for everyone to be active without owning the equipment for sports and other activities.

Equip Sports is offering free equipment storage lockers across the city where people can loan sports equipment for recreational use.

“(Equip Sport has) already enabled over one million free sessions of play worldwide and are quickly gaining global recognition for their innovative model following their debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics,” the City of Ottawa said in a press release. “With this new partnership, Ottawa becomes the second city in Canada to pilot their lockers.”

Fifty self-serve lockers are now available in various parks across the city. All it requires is for participants to download an app; no payment is needed.

“Designed to be inclusive and accessible, the lockers are simple to use,” the city said. “After downloading the free Equip Sport app on their mobile device, users can unlock equipment for free, enjoy their game and then return the gear when finished.”

The initiative is being funded by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. Jumpstart’s support enables the city to offer the lockers at no cost to residents, removing financial, systemic and physical barriers to play.