FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, the Springfield Park District, City of Springfield, and National Fitness Campaign Make Fitness Free for Everyone in Springfield
State-of-the-Art Outdoor Fitness Court Coming to Comer Cox Park
SPRINGFIELD PARK DISTRICT MEDIA CONTACT:
Amanda Tippin | atippin@springfieldparks.org
217-544-1751 ext 1014
NFC MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy E. Shogren | ashogren@nfchq.com
813-505-7482
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., JULY 6, 2022 — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, the Springfield Park District, City of Springfield and National Fitness Campaign (NFC) today announced an agreement to bring an outdoor Fitness Court® to the Springfield Park District. The Fitness Court,
located in Comer Cox Park, will open July 11, 2022 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
This Fitness Court was developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, the Springfield Park District, the City of Springfield and NFC to expand free access to high quality workouts and create equitable access to exercise for communities around the state. The Fitness Court is the
world’s best outdoor gym that lets people use their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations.
Created with people aged 14 and over - and with all abilities - in mind, the workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace. Users also may download the free Fitness Court App which acts as a coach-in-your-pocket and enhances the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience.
“Regular exercise is essential to maintaining personal health and reducing health care costs,” said Katie Cangemi, Senior Program Officer, Community Investment, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. “Blue Cross is committed to promoting better health in our communities, and this
Fitness Court makes it easy for anyone at any fitness level to get a good outdoor workout, connect with neighbors, and stay healthy.”
“The Springfield Park District is thrilled to provide another outdoor Fitness Court to the Springfield community. It is an example of our ongoing commitment to promote health, wellness and to help shape bright futures. We are excited to showcase our new outdoor Fitness Court in Comer Cox Park and invite the community to join us.”– states Leslie A. Sgro, President of the Springfield Park District Board of Trustees.
Mayor Jim Langfelder stated, “The last few years taught us about the importance of our own personal health and well-being; and how access to outdoor community spaces is critical to neighborhoods across Springfield. This is only one part to the various collaborations we are working towards for the betterment of all our residents – both young and young-at-heart. By us working together, our impact becomes that much greater, and our neighborhoods benefit tenfold.”
“National Fitness Campaign is proud to welcome the Springfield Park District to the campaign as a leader in health and wellness for Illinois and across America,” said Mitch Menaged, Founder of National Fitness Campaign.
Residents are invited to attend the Launch Event on July 11th at 11:00am to try the Fitness Court. For more information, visit www.springfieldparks.org or contact the Springfield Park District at 217-544-1751. For more information on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois’ support of NFC, please visit nationalfitnesscampaign.com/illinois.
# # #
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is committed to expanding access to quality, cost effective health to as many people as possible in Illinois. BCBSIL is dedicated to innovation and exploring, nurturing and activating future possibilities to make the health care system work
better for our members and our communities. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
About the Springfield Park District
The Springfield Park District was organized on February 8, 1900. It serves approximately 140,000 residents and its boundaries encompass the greater portion of the Springfield metropolitan area, covering approximately 60 square miles, 2,500 acres of parkland, 322 acres
of Nature Preserve, 36 parks, 23 miles of bike trails, and four golf courses.
The Springfield Park District offers a variety of educational and recreational programs, classes and events for people ranging in age from 6 months to seniors. The Park District partners with several local organizations and clubs to provide athletic programming such as youth
baseball/softball, men's soccer, disk golf leagues, cricket, rugby, pickleball, youth football, bicycling clubs and related clubs/groups. Additionally, the Springfield Park District also maintains intergovernmental/cooperative agreement with various Police Departments, School District and local colleges.
About NFC
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 with the mission to build healthy communities. NFC delivers an integrated wellness initiative, centered on the world’s best outdoor gym: The Fitness Court®. The Campaign is planning its 500th Healthy Community, uniting 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. Follow us on social
media @NatFitCampaign and #Fitnesscourt.
