What began as a shared commitment to expand access to free, outdoor fitness has grown into one of the most comprehensive community wellness partnerships in Texas. In Brownsville and across the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), the collaboration between the City of Brownsville, National Fitness Campaign (NFC), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health is setting a new standard for how infrastructure, research, and culturally relevant programming can work together to improve health outcomes.

From Partnership Announcement to Regional Impact

The partnership first took shape through the Texas Wellness Innovation Zone, a statewide initiative led by NFC and BCBSTX to bring free, accessible Fitness Court® wellness hubs to communities across Texas. The Rio Grande Valley quickly emerged as a focal point of this effort, reflecting both the region’s strong community leadership and its long-standing commitment to public health.

Early momentum came in San Benito, one of the first RGV communities to launch a Fitness Court Studio in early 2025. The opening brought together city leaders, public safety officials, families, and local ambassadors for a celebration that included Fitness Court demonstrations, Zumba classes, and a “Battle of the Badges” relay between police and fire departments. 

“The City of San Benito is deeply committed to enhancing the quality of life and health for all our residents,” said Mayor Ricardo Guerra. “We’re incredibly grateful to our partners for helping make this state-of-the-art Fitness Court Studio available to the public at no cost.”

A custom mural by local artist Cecilia Sierra further rooted the space in community identity, transforming the site into a hub for movement, pride, and connection.

A Milestone for Higher Education and Public Health

That momentum continued in Brownsville with the launch of a Fitness Court Studio at Texas Southmost College (TSC), marking a major milestone as the first higher education partner in the Rio Grande Valley and within the Texas Innovation Zone initiative.

Located on campus and open to the public, the TSC Fitness Court Studio was quickly integrated into campus life and community programming, reinforcing the idea that colleges can play a central role in advancing wellness beyond the classroom.

“This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting wellness and improving quality of life for our students and the greater Brownsville community by making fitness accessible and free to all,” said Dr. Jesús Roberto Rodríguez, President of Texas Southmost College.

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The TSC launch also highlighted the role of UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, whose leadership and research expertise help guide the Innovation Zone model. Under the direction of Dr. Belinda Reininger, UTHealth’s nationally recognized Tu Salud ¡Sí Cuenta! initiative has spent more than two decades helping Brownsville build a “Culture of Health” through community-based education, local media, and neighborhood fitness programming. The addition of Fitness Court Studios provided new infrastructure to support and scale that work.

Citywide Expansion and a Defining Moment

Building on campus success, the City of Brownsville expanded free fitness access citywide with the launch of three new Fitness Courts—two Fitness Court Studios at Cabler Park and Joe & Tony Oliveira Park, and a Fitness Court at the Brownsville Events Center.

In December 2025, the City hosted a three-stop Ribbon-Cutting Tour, celebrating the installations alongside partners from NFC, BCBSTX, UTHealth, and Tu Salud ¡Sí Cuenta!. Live demonstrations showcased how the Fitness Court Studios can be activated to support physical activity, chronic disease prevention, and social connection, reinforcing the Innovation Zone’s emphasis on pairing infrastructure with programming.

“In addition to improving physical health, physical activity enhances behavioral health and fosters social connection,” said Dr. Mark Chassay, Chief Medical Officer at BCBSTX. “Helping fund these Fitness Courts is one way we can support better health outcomes for all Texans, right where they live.”

With these openings, Brownsville became a clear leader in the Rio Grande Valley, demonstrating how cities, higher education, healthcare, and public health research can align around a shared wellness vision.

Looking Ahead

Today, Brownsville stands as a cornerstone of the Texas Innovation Zone Partnership, a three-year collaboration between NFC, BCBSTX, and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. In 2025 alone, the partnership launched 13 Fitness Courts statewide, with a significant concentration across Hidalgo and Cameron counties.

Over the next three years, NFC and BCBSTX plan to develop 40 Fitness Courts throughout the Rio Grande Valley, contributing to a statewide network of 150 total sites. Each Fitness Court serves as a digitally connected wellness hub, offering free, app-supported workouts, group classes, and ambassador-led programming.

Together, Brownsville’s campus-based and citywide Fitness Court launches illustrate the full evolution of the partnership—from announcement to activation to measurable community impact—and offer a scalable, research-informed model for improving health outcomes across Texas.

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