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From Pottersville Field in Somerset to Pinehurst Park in Billerica, two Massachusetts communities have added free outdoor Fitness Courts to their parks this year, each one shaped by the people and places that make the town what it is.
Massachusetts has always had a strong tradition of community investment through Town Meeting, Community Preservation funds, and the kind of civic participation that makes local government feel genuinely local. It is fitting, then, that the state's Fitness Court network has grown the way it has: one community at a time, each one arriving at the decision through its own process, its own people, and its own understanding of what its residents need. Somerset and Billerica are the two newest additions to a network that now spans 25 partner communities and campuses across the Commonwealth, backed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
Somerset — a town that asked its residents to vote on it
The Fitness Court at Pottersville Field in Somerset did not arrive quietly. Town Administrator Mark Ullucci brought the idea to the Playground and Recreation Commission, then to the Board of Selectmen, then to Town Meeting, where voters approved $175,000 in Community Preservation funds for the project.
Ullucci has been clear about what the Fitness Court is for and who it serves:
"There is real value in committing resources to residents. This resource will highlight the importance of health and well-being in a setting that is available to everyone. Working with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and the National Fitness Campaign assured this wonderful project was realized. I look forward to all the options and opportunities this Fitness Court provides.". Mark Ullucci, Town Administrator, Town of Somerset
The ribbon cutting at Pottersville Field brought together town leadership, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and the YMCA in Swansea, whose Executive Director Vanessa Levrault captured the multi-generational spirit of the space: "It promotes wellness. It's an essential place where everyone can feel welcome and come together. Whether you are a teenager or an older, active adult, there's something for everybody."
State Rep. Justin Thurber attended and praised the public-private partnership that made it possible. Council on Aging Director Cynthia Pasteris, who has a background in bodybuilding and was one of the project's strongest internal champions, spoke to the breadth of what the Fitness Court offers: squats, pull-ups, push-ups, lunges, all bodyweight, all adaptable, all free. Ullucci noted that a walking path is also being planned for Pottersville Field, which would make the Fitness Court a natural stop along a loop that did not exist before.
The location itself was deliberate. Far from the basketball court that already draws heavy use, the Fitness Court gives adults their own dedicated space in a park that also has a playground nearby, so parents can work out while their children play. Within days of opening, Ullucci spotted a couple working out hard on the Fitness Court before doing wind sprints on the field. "That is impressive," he said.
Billerica — neighbors invited to show up
The Fitness Court at Pinehurst Park arrived as part of something larger. The park had just undergone a full renovation, and the Fitness Court was not an afterthought added to an existing space but a centerpiece of a reimagined one. The launch was timed to coincide with the Billerica Community Farmers Market, which meant the ribbon cutting happened on a morning when neighbors were already out, already moving through the park, already part of a community gathering that did not require anyone to go out of their way.
Billerica did not wait for residents to find the Fitness Court on their own. Assistant Recreation Director Jessie Hampson and local fitness instructor Anne Zammito led ambassador demonstrations of all seven stations at the launch, walking attendees through what the equipment could do at every fitness level. State Representative Daniel Darris-O'Connor joined the celebration, reflecting the kind of cross-level civic investment that gives a community amenity weight beyond the ribbon cutting.
The town kept that momentum going in the days that followed, partnering with A to Z Personal Training and Fitness to host pop-up classes at Pinehurst Park open to all ability levels. By pairing the physical infrastructure with regular, scheduled programming from a local fitness professional, Billerica gave residents a reason to come back and a guided introduction to equipment that can feel unfamiliar on first encounter. Recreation Director Dave Grubb captured the spirit behind it all:
Dave Grubb, Director of Recreation for the Town of Billerica, spoke to what the Fitness Court adds to Pinehurst Park:
"We are thrilled to bring this free and healthy addition to Pinehurst Park. We are grateful for the support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and the National Fitness Campaign for their financial contributions and support. We can't wait to see residents taking advantage of this unique feature." Dave Grubb, Director of Recreation, Town of Billerica
The pop-up class model that Billerica moved into immediately after launch is exactly the kind of activation that keeps a Fitness Court from becoming a forgotten amenity. By pairing the physical infrastructure with regular, scheduled programming from a local fitness professional, the town gave residents a reason to come back and a guided introduction to equipment that can feel unfamiliar on first encounter.
What Massachusetts is building
Somerset and Billerica join a Massachusetts network that now includes 25 partner communities and campuses, with 23 Fitness Courts open and two more in development. The network spans university campuses like Bridgewater State, school districts like Taunton Public Schools, and cities including Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, and Gardner. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has sponsored 21 Fitness Courts across the state, a sustained investment in the kind of accessible public health infrastructure that serves residents regardless of income, age, or fitness background.
What Somerset and Billerica share, beyond the Fitness Court itself, is a clear-eyed sense of who the space is for. Not athletes. Not members. Everyone. That is the standard the Massachusetts campaign has set, and these two communities have met it.
Explore all open Fitness Court locations in Massachusetts on the NFC interactive map, or visit nationalfitnesscampaign.com/massachusetts to learn more about the statewide campaign.
