THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 10, 2022 Page 3 Mayor announces new Fitness Court at Glendale Park The ribbon cutting for the new Fitness Court at Glendale Park will take place on June 15 at 10 a.m. Special to The Advocate M ayor Carlo DeMaria and the City of Everett are pleased to announce a new Fitness Court at Glendale Park that was built in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) and the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) to expand free, equitable access to outdoor exercise programs for Everett residents. Mayor DeMaria and the City of Everett invite residents to join the celebration as they cut the ribbon to open the new Fitness Court at Glendale Park at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. The new Fitness Court® at Glendale Park is an open-air wellness center that allows users of all ages and fitness levels to leverage 30 pieces of bodyweight equipment to get a complete workout. New users can also download the free Fitness Court App – a coach-inyour-pocket-style platform – that transforms the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness ecosystem. The Fitness Court App is available for iOS and Android. “Promoting equitable access to health and fitness has always been a key facet of my Administration,” said Everett Mayor DeMaria. “It is with great pride and excitement that the City of Everett announces the launch of this outdoor fitness court. From opening up the waterfront for recreational activities, supporting community, urban farms, implementing a community wellness center, creating a Food Policy Council, this outdoor fitness court, made possible through our partnership with the National Fitness Campaign and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, brings our City one step closer toward achieving truly equitable access to health for our residents.” “Blue Cross is committed to helping people live healthy lives and eliminating the physical and social barriers that lead to health disparities,” said Blue Cross Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and Public Affairs Jeff Bellows. “We’re proud to partner with NFC and the City of Everett to launch our first Fitness Court in the Commonwealth that will provide Everett residents a communal gathering space and access to premiere free outdoor fitness opportunities.” Everett is the first outdoor court in a series of 15 Blue Cross Fitness Courts that will be constructed in easily accessible public spaces throughout 2022-2023. The partnership of Blue Cross with NFC is part of the company’s strengthened corporate citizenship commitment to promote health justice in communities across the Commonwealth. Over the next five years, Blue Cross will provide $16 million in grants and volunteer support to notfor-profits working to address food, environmental and racial justice in Massachusetts communities. This work supports the company’s overall pledge (announced in 2021) to be a leader in addressing health inequities across the Commonwealth. NFC developed the trademarked seven-station system in 2012 hoping to inspire municipalities to transform public spaces into community fitness hubs. There are currently 150 active Fitness Court locations across the country, and the campaign will reach a total of 500 cities and schools by the end of 2023. For more information, visit nationalfitnesscampaign. com/Massachusetts or the City of Everett’s Facebook Page or contact 311.
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