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At Mayor Pablo Pena Park, the City of Weslaco kicked off 2026 with a ribbon cutting ceremony that brought together city leaders, local athletes, first responders, and the broader community for the first Fitness Court launch of the year.
There is something fitting about a city named for a place of growth being the one to open the year. On launch day at Mayor Pablo Pena Park in Weslaco, Texas, the crowd was large, the energy was high, and the sense of civic pride was impossible to miss. With city commissioners, health partners, student athletes, firefighters, and police officers all on hand, Weslaco made its first Fitness Court feel like the community event it was always meant to be.
The Weslaco Fitness Court was developed in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and the National Fitness Campaign, and it represents the kind of public investment that pays forward for years. Free to use, open to adults of all ages and abilities, and equipped with seven bodyweight exercise stations and free digital programming through the Fitness Court app, the Fitness Court at Mayor Pablo Pena Park is a permanent addition to Weslaco's park system and a new anchor for the community's wellness culture.
A city showing up in full
The level of civic representation at the launch spoke volumes about how seriously Weslaco took this moment. Mayor Adrian Gonzalez led the gathering alongside Mayor Pro-Tem Pete Garcia, Commissioner Letty Lopez, Commissioner Adrian Farias, and Commissioner Josh Pedraza. City Manager Xavier Salinas and Assistant City Manager Omar Rodriguez attended alongside Parks Director Eddie Serna, whose department will steward the Fitness Court for years to come. Magali Vega, the city's Director of Media and Communications, helped bring the day together, and Weslaco Chamber member Barbara Garza represented the local business community. Ben Suarez, Senior Manager of Large Group Account Management at BCBSTX, joined the ceremony to represent the partnership that made the Fitness Court possible.
Mayor Gonzalez set the tone for the morning with remarks that grounded the ribbon cutting in something larger than the day itself:
"The addition of this Fitness Court is a meaningful investment in the health and well-being of our community. We are excited to host this ribbon cutting ceremony and officially welcome a space that encourages adults of all ages to stay active and prioritize their fitness goals. This new amenity is a valuable addition to our park system, and we are proud to be part of a project that promotes healthier lifestyles right here in Weslaco." Mayor Adrian Gonzalez, City of Weslaco
Demos, challenges, and a crowd that stayed for it
Ambassadors from Knapp Medical Center, local school athletic departments, and the Weslaco Fire and Police Departments took to the Fitness Court for demonstrations and friendly challenges that showed the crowd what the seven stations could do in real hands. Having first responders and student athletes on the equipment side by side made a simple but powerful point: this Fitness Court is for everyone, regardless of background, or fitness level.
The crowd was substantial and engaged, the kind of turnout that tells you a community has been waiting for something like this. Adults of all ages moved through the stations, asked questions, and left with a clear picture of what was now available to them at Mayor Pablo Pena Park, free of charge, any day they wanted it.
Part of a growing statewide network
Weslaco joins more than 50 communities across Texas that have partnered with BCBSTX and NFC to bring free outdoor fitness to their residents. The statewide campaign has been building steadily, placing Fitness Courts in cities large and small, urban and rural, with the shared goal of making quality fitness infrastructure available to every Texan close to home.
For NFC, opening the 2026 season in Weslaco was a meaningful start. The Rio Grande Valley has a rich community identity, and seeing a city like Weslaco invest in its public park system with this kind of purpose is exactly the momentum the campaign is built around. With dozens more launches planned across the country in 2026, the bar has been set by the community that went first.
The Fitness Court at Mayor Pablo Pena Park is open now, free to all, and ready for the Weslaco community to make it their own. Residents can scan the QR code on site to access free guided workouts through the Fitness Court app, adjust the intensity to their level, and work through all seven stations at their own pace.
