Open-Air Gym Opens in Johnson City

A free, open-air fitness facility is set to open in the Village of Johnson City.

The Village, Town of Union, MVP Health Care and the National Fitness Campaign are coordinating to officially open the Fitness Court at Floral Avenue Park July 12

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The facility is an outdoor fitness gym made up of seven stations for residents of all abilities age 14 and up.  There is also a free Fitness Court App to help coach residents in their workouts.

Coordinators say the partnership is aimed at expanding free access to high-quality workouts and provide access to exercise to a wider range of individuals around the state.

The Fitness Court is described as “the world’s best outdoor gym that allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout.”

Participants can work at their own pace with the option of using the app as a coach to guide users to their fitness goals.

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Town of Union Councilwomen Sandy Dellapenna Bauman and Heather Staley are credited for taking steps to address the growing problem of increased inactivity and obesity that lead to higher health risks. While Town Clerk Lenny Perfetti passed along the idea.

Director of Planning for the Village of Johnson City, Stephanie Yezzi says the Village is looking to promote health and culture in the neighborhoods surrounding the park on Floral Avenue. Yezzi says, “while the equipment is not located directly within the iDistrict, we feel it is a vibrant extension of the overall Village vision.”

The Town of Union looked into the fitness court idea offered through National Fitness Campaign and MVP of New York following the closing of indoor gyms during the pandemic and applied for a funding grant last year.  After being awarded the grant, the Town Council decided to “gift” the park to the Village of Johnson City.