April 28, 2025
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San Benito, TX – April 2025 — The City of San Benito proudly celebrated a major step forward in community wellness with the grand opening of its brand-new outdoor Fitness Court Studio. Designed to provide free access to high-quality fitness for residents of all ages and abilities, the launch event brought together city leaders, public safety officials, local artists, Fitness Court ambassadors, and families for a morning of movement, connection, and community pride.
Hosted at a central location within walking distance of many neighborhoods, the event kicked off with remarks from key city leaders, including Mayor Ricardo Guerra, City Manager Fred Sandoval, Assistant City Manager Diana Garza, and Cultural Arts Director Aleida Garcia. Together, they highlighted the City’s commitment to creating healthier, more connected communities through accessible public amenities.
“The City of San Benito is deeply committed to enhancing the quality of life and health for all our residents. We are incredibly grateful to our partners for their generous support in making this state-of-the-art fitness court studio available to the public at no cost,” said Mayor Ricardo Guerra. “This is an exciting addition to our community, and we can't wait to see everyone take full advantage of this amazing resource.”
The celebration included a high-energy relay challenge between San Benito’s finest, as teams of local police officers and firefighters faced off in a fun, friendly competition on the Fitness Court. The crowd cheered on the two squads as they raced through each station, showcasing the Fitness Court’s dynamic design and workout versatility.
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To help introduce the community to the new space, a team of Ambassadors led demonstrations and guided attendees through downloading the Fitness Court App, which unlocks free digital workouts and training programs. A local Zumba instructor from the ambassador team also hosted a pop-up class on the Fitness Court Studio, getting the crowd moving and adding a festive rhythm to the day’s activities.
“This is really important because, you know, in our region, we want to provide facilities that are easily accessible to the community, and this is actually in walking distance to many of our neighborhoods,” said Christina Garcia, Public Relations Officer with the City of San Benito.
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A highlight of the launch was the unveiling of a custom public art installation, created by local artist Cecilia Sierra, who is known for her vibrant murals across the region. Her work brings an added layer of inspiration and beauty to the court, made possible through a special artist grant that supports creative community collaborations as part of this nationwide initiative.
“In addition to improvement in physical health, physical activity improves behavioral health conditions and can foster opportunities to make new social connections,” said Dr. Mark Chassay, chief medical officer at BCBSTX. “About half of U.S. adults are not getting enough physical activity in their daily lives. Helping fund these Fitness Courts is just one example of how we can support optimal health outcomes for all Texans, right in their own communities.”
“We are excited to have the City of San Benito join us in the journey to improve health and wellness as we work to make a powerful and long-lasting impact on health outcomes and happiness by building healthy communities across America,’’ said Mitch Menaged, founder of National Fitness Campaign. “The addition of the outdoor Fitness Court, along with digital wellness programming, demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the health and wellbeing within the San Benito community.”
With food, music, games, and the participation of local sports teams and hula-hooping groups, the launch event captured the energy of a city united in its mission to support healthier lifestyles. As the Fitness Court becomes part of daily life in San Benito, it promises to be a lasting source of strength, connection, and community pride.
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