APRIL 23, 2026
McAllen Mayor Launches Sweet 60 Showdown with New Outdoor Fitness Court® at Bill Schupp Park
Community wellness challenge features outdoor fitness and healthy living
The City of McAllen, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), and the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) today announced a unique partnership with an outdoor Fitness Court and digital wellness programming. The Fitness Court will open on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and community celebration at Bill Schupp Park.
As part of the launch, Mayor Javier Villalobos will kick off a Sweet 60 Showdown by completing 60 pushups on site, challenging residents to engage in wellness activities. “At the start of this year, as I prepared to turn 60, I committed to doing something meaningful to inspire our community to move and prioritize their physical and emotional health. This is about leading by example and showing that McAllen is not defined by outside perceptions, but by people committed to living stronger, healthier lives,” Mayor Javier Villalobos.
This Fitness Court was developed by the City of McAllen, BCBSTX, and NFC to expand free access to high quality workouts and create equitable access to exercise for communities across the region.
Designed as a world class outdoor gym, the court allows users to leverage their own body weight for a complete workout using seven exercise stations. Created for resident of all abilities aged 14 and older, the workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their
own pace. Residents can also download the free Fitness Court App, which serves as a coach in your pocket and transforms the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience.
The City of McAllen is one of more than 50 campaign partners building a statewide network of Fitness Courts with support from BCBSTX.
“This is another meaningful investment in our families and in the overall quality of life we’re building here in McAllen,” said City Manager Isaac J. Tawil. “Bill Schupp Park has long been a staple in our community, and it only made sense to elevate it with amenities that reflect the kind of active, connected, and vibrant lifestyle our residents deserve. This is what winning looks like for our city, accessible, high-quality spaces that support healthier lives for everyone.”
“Physical activity is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to improve overall health,” said Dr. Mark Chassay, chief medical officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. “By investing in Fitness Courts across Texas, we’re creating more opportunities for people to move, connect, and build healthier, more equitable communities for the future.”
“We are excited to have the City of McAllen 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 McAllen community.”
Residents are invited to attend the launch event at Bill Schupp Park on May 6 at 10 a.m. to experience the Fitness Court and take part in the Sweet 60 Showdown kickoff celebration.
For more information on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas support of NFC, please visit https://www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com/texas
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Celebrating 95 years of helping improve the health of Texans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas — the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas — is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with more than 168,000 physicians and health care practitioners, and 550 hospitals to serve eight million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico). Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
About National Fitness Campaign
Founded in San Francisco in 1979, National Fitness Campaign (NFC) is a wellness consulting firm that provides programs and services to cities, schools and sponsors. Our mission is to build healthy communities nationwide. The campaign delivers an integrated wellness initiative, centered around the Fitness Court®– the world's best outdoor gym. National Fitness Campaign is preparing to welcome its 750th healthy community in 2026, as it continues to grow the country’s largest public-private partnership in support of wellness with the goal of building a Fitness Court® within a 10-minute bike ride of every American. Learn more about National Fitness Campaign at national fitnesscampaign.com and follow along on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About the City of McAllen
Founded in 1904 and incorporated in 1911, the City of McAllen has grown from a small agricultural community into one of the most vibrant and fastest-growing cities along the U.S.–Mexico border. Known as the “City of Palms,” McAllen serves as a hub for international trade, retail, tourism, and culture in the Rio Grande Valley.
Today, the City employs more than 2,600 dedicated public servants across 41 departments, delivering essential services to a com munity of more than 150,000 residents. City leaders remain committed to transparent governance, fiscal responsibility, and en hancing quality of life through innovation, infrastructure, and community engagement.
For more information, visit www.mcallen.net.
