Parks & Recreation

Outdoor Fitness Equipment for Parks and Communities

While most parks excel at recreation, a gap remains in free, high-quality adult outdoor fitness equipment. National Fitness Campaign bridges this divide with a turnkey solution, guiding Parks and Rec departments from site assessment through opening day to ensure a seamless addition to your infrastructure.
Why parks are adding it

Why Parks and Recreation Leaders Choose the Fitness Court®

From master plan sessions to community surveys, the feedback for Park Directors is consistent: residents want free-to-use, accessible outdoor fitness equipment for adults. The Fitness Court is the definitive answer to that demand—a permanent, power-free installation designed for everyone ages 14 and up. By removing the financial barriers to exercise, the Fitness Court does more than improve physical health, it serves as a social hub that boosts mental well-being and fosters regular community connection.

Here is how park departments are leveraging the Fitness Court to transform their communities:

Standalone Park Installations

The most direct answer to community demand for adult outdoor fitness. A Fitness Court sited in existing green space, starting at 38x38 feet, with no utilities, no power, and no operational overhead. Park fitness equipment designed to serve every resident 14 and older from day one.

Extending Your Rec Center Outdoors

Parks departments with existing recreation facilities use the Fitness Court to extend their fitness offering outdoors. It serves community members who prefer open-air exercise and expands programming capacity without adding to the facility's operational demands.

Trail & Greenway Integration

Placed at trailheads, rest points, or greenway corridors, the Fitness Court becomes part of a connected outdoor wellness experience. It extends the value of active transportation infrastructure and gives trail users a structured fitness option within the park network.
Building a Healthy Infrastructure® Network
Healthy communities need Healthy Infrastructure®. Parks departments build networks of Fitness Courts across multiple neighborhoods, creating a system of free outdoor fitness access that reaches every resident regardless of where they live. Building a network is how a department makes free outdoor fitness available to everyone, not just the neighborhoods closest to a single park.

Programming & Community Activation

The Fitness Court is a platform for community programming, not just a piece of equipment. Ambassador-led classes, fitness challenges, and organized community events all build around it, giving parks departments an outdoor programming anchor that brings residents out regularly and keeps the space active year-round.
Learn more about our Ambassador program →

Outdoor Fitness Grants

As the largest public-private partnership in the country, National Fitness Campaign connects eligible parks departments with outdoor fitness grants from our national healthcare partners.
Learn more about grant opportunities →
Our Partners

750+ Parks Departments and Districts Have Brought a Fitness Court® to Their Community

Parks departments in every region of the country have brought a Fitness Court to their community. From a small town green space in Jay, FL to the recreation system of San Francisco, the demand for free outdoor fitness equipment is everywhere, and so is the Campaign.
Parks & Recreation Leaders

Voices From the Field

Parks directors across the country are building free outdoor fitness into their community wellness strategy.

Lupe Gonzalez
Councilmember
Farmers Branch, TX
“The Fitness Court is a wonderful opportunity to create a community space that further enhances the quality of life for our residents. Partnering with the National Fitness Campaign and BCBSTX allows the city to provide a high-quality fitness amenity that is free and open to everyone.”
Nick Troy
Parks District Executive Director
Rolling Meadows, IL
“This project reflects our ongoing commitment to creating spaces where residents can thrive. The Fitness Court brings another innovative, free resource to our community—one that supports wellness, connection, and active lifestyles for all.”
Kyle Smith
County Manager
Jones County, NC
“Bringing a Fitness Court to a rural county like ours is an important milestone. It creates new opportunities for residents to stay active and reflects Jones County’s commitment to improving recreation for everyone.”
Evan Brassard
Town Administrator
Grafton, MA
“With the convenient placement of the new Fitness Court, located just outside our Senior Center and within walking distance of two schools and the Police Station, we know that many residents and Town employees will be able to make use of the equipment to live a more active, healthier life.”
Community Stories

Parks Building Healthier Communities

Parks departments build the programs that make a Fitness Court® matter. Across the country, recreation teams are activating their outdoor fitness spaces with Ambassador-led programming, community events, and citywide networks that give every resident access to free outdoor fitness. Two examples of what that looks like on the ground.
City of Huntsville Expands Their Fitness Court® Network at Legacy Park
From Schoolyard to State-of-the-Art Park
Built on the site of a former high school, Huntsville's new $4.6 million Legacy Park is blending local art, multi-generational recreation, and community history into one vibrant space. Featuring a stunning mural by local artist Jamal FRESKO Turner, this Fitness Court is already serving as a wellness hub for the neighborhood.
Batavia Park District Champions Community Health with New Fitness Court Studio Launch
A Multi-Generational Milestone at Clark Island
Batavia Park District has transformed the Clark Island Recreation Area into a premier destination for community wellness. Featuring a specialized design complete with native-plant mural art and space for music-fueled group classes, this free outdoor gym launched alongside a new skate park to create a vibrant, all-ages hub where fitness and community connection go hand-in-hand.
Fon du Lac Park District Expands Wellness Access with New Fitness Court Studio
East Peoria Debuts Vibrant Fitness Court Along the River Trail
Strategically situated at the Fon du Lac Park District Administration Center, East Peoria’s outdoor Fitness Court is seamlessly connecting the community's popular trail system with free, world-class exercise. This highly accessible, multi-level wellness space offers a dynamic workout environment where residents can easily transition from a run on the River Trail to a music-fueled group fitness session.
What's possible

Every Park is Different. So is Every Fitness Court®.

The Campaign works with parks departments to determine what each project includes. Here is what is available.

The Foundation

The Fitness Court®

The world’s best outdoor gym for everyone 14 and older, built around seven body weight movement categories and supported by a free coaching app. No power, no overhead, and available to every resident in your parks system from day one.
Outdoor Programming

The Fitness Court® Studio

For parks that want to build a programming calendar around their outdoor fitness space, the Studio creates a dedicated environment for instructor-led classes and organized community events. Contact our team to learn about Studio availability for your site.
Community Identity

Custom Art & Community Identity

Every Fitness Court includes an art component, making each installation a reflection of the community it serves. Options range from standard integration to local artist collaboration or custom development through NFC's internal design team.
Year-Round Comfort
The Fitness Court® Shade
For parks where sun protection matters, the NFC Fitness Court Shade Structure extends the usability of the Fitness Court year-round, creating a more comfortable environment for daily use and scheduled programming. Contact our team to discuss availability.
Discuss options for your park with our team
Planning Your Project

Frequently Asked Questions from Parks Directors

Parks directors start the Fitness Court® conversation from different places — some have a site in mind, some have a budget question, some are building a case for their board. Whatever stage you're at, these are the questions we hear most.
What's the first step for a parks department interested in a Fitness Court®?
What size park is a good fit for a Fitness Court?
How does funding work for parks departments?
Who is the Fitness Court designed for?
Does outdoor fitness equipment work in cold climates?
What maintenance is required for outdoor gym equipment?
Ready to explore what a Fitness Court looks like for your park? Connect with our planning team.

Bring a Fitness Court® to Your Park

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