November 13, 2025
The City of Nogales and Nogales Unified School District (NUSD) made history this summer with the launch of the first Fitness Court® Studio in Arizona—a groundbreaking initiative powered by a visionary collaboration between Arizona Complete Health and National Fitness Campaign. This launch marks the second Arizona Complete Health Fitness Court® in the state and the first installation in partnership with an education-based organization, creating new opportunities for students and the broader Nogales community to engage in free, accessible outdoor fitness.
The new Fitness Court Studio is located on the campus of Pierson High School, adjacent to the historic Nogales Unified School District building. This addition reflects a growing commitment by NUSD and city leadership to improve health equity and promote community wellness through outdoor recreation.
The launch ceremony brought together students, educators, city officials, and community champions for a high-energy celebration of unity and health. Among those in attendance were Nogales Mayor Jorge Maldonado, Superintendent Angelina Canto, Pierson High School Principal Mr. Jigar Mehta, Support Services Director Mr. Islas, AZCH Regional Vice President of Community Affairs Greg Taylor, and NUSD Board Clerk Manuel Reese. Community partners such as the Nogales Police Department, Nogales Fire Department, Susana Calderon, and the Santa Cruz County Youth Soccer Club also took part in the event.
Principal Mehta delivered an inspiring speech to open the event:
“Thank you for joining us today. What an exciting moment for Pierson High School and for our entire Nogales community. Today isn’t just about cutting a ribbon or unveiling a new space. Today we celebrate a vision that has come to life—a vision that is rooted in health, equity, and community, values that define who we are in Nogales. Right here on our very own campus we are opening something truly special: a state-of-the-art Fitness Court Studio, free and open to everyone. This space is for students, families, neighbors, visitors—it’s a place where you can move, grow, and connect. This Fitness Court isn’t just made of steel and rubber—it’s built on purpose. It’s part of a larger movement to make wellness accessible to all. Thanks to the incredible partnership between NUSD, Arizona Complete Health, and NFC, we have brought world-class fitness to the heart of the city for everyone, anyone aged 14+. With seven high-performance stations guiding your workouts and a dedicated app, this Fitness Court is more than a gym—it’s your coach, your cheerleader, and your launchpad for a healthier you.
To our students, this is your space. Start your morning here, wind down your day here with your friends, set goals, build habits—let this be a place where your energy, your health, and your dreams take shape. To our community, this is an open invitation. Come, walk, stretch, move, connect. It’s more than just fitness—it’s about taking care of ourselves and each other.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who made today possible—our Superintendent Mrs. Canto, our Assistant Superintendent, our Support Services Director Mrs. Islas—thank you for your leadership. To our champions at Arizona Complete Health and NFC—thank you for believing in Nogales. And to all of you here today—thank you for showing up, for caring, and for being part of something that matters. Let this be the beginning of something strong—not just physically, but mentally and as a community. Welcome to the Nogales Community Fitness Court Studio. Let’s keep moving forward together.”
Mayor Jorge Maldonado echoed the community-driven mission behind the project:
“Having the track at our school and this exercise equipment available for everybody is a great uniting force between the school district, the community, and everyone. That’s what it takes—all of us working together, thinking about our health. If we don’t do it for ourselves, nobody will.
Getting everybody involved—the Nogales Fire Department, the Nogales Police Department, the community, the school—it’s going to be something that is very, very appreciated by the whole town and the school district. Let’s try to grow and do more projects like this, because it’s what we need. This is a great addition to the community and a great success for health—let’s use it and take care of it.”
Board Clerk Manuel Reese added his passionate voice in support of the new amenity:
“This investment in the community is not just for the benefit of our first responders—who we thank for protecting us and keeping us safe—we hope this gives you an area close to your main station where you can come and work out. We encourage our community to come use this. We encourage our community to work out. We encourage our community to stay healthy. I think the only way we can move forward and continue to have a vibrant community is by all of us staying healthy and contributing and doing good things that will continue to shine a light on what we’re doing here.”
Following the remarks, the Nogales Police Department recruits led a demonstration on the Fitness Court, showcasing the dynamic training possibilities at each station. They were followed by the Nogales Fire Department, who joined fitness leader Susana Calderon for a high-energy Zumba class on the Studio side of the Fitness Court.
Arizona Complete Health's involvement continues to drive statewide progress in community wellness. Greg Taylor, AZCH Regional Vice President of Community Affairs, shared his enthusiasm for the program and its mission-aligned impact on Arizona communities.
The launch in Nogales stands as a testament to what can be achieved when education, public health, and local leadership come together to prioritize wellness. With the support of dedicated partners and a unified vision, Nogales has created a space that will empower generations to move more, connect deeply, and thrive.
