CINCINNATI, OH — UC Health and National Fitness Campaign (NFC) announced an initiative today to help 10 local communities build world-class outdoor Fitness Courts®—free, accessible spaces where people of all ages and fitness levels can come together to move, train and thrive. The initiative affirms the academic health system’s commitment to making Greater Cincinnati the healthiest city in America by championing community wellness and preventative health programs that are accessible for all, supporting whole-person care that can help prevent, treat and reverse chronic disease.
“At UC Health, our responsibility to provide care for all extends beyond our hospital and clinics to the community. By combining opportunities for our region to experience the effects of both movement and nature, we’re empowering individuals to take control of their overall well-being,” stated Cory Shaw, president and CEO of UC Health. “We’re thrilled to join this movement and work with NFC and local cities, schools and organizations in achieving better outcomes for all.”
By investing in local schools, municipalities and organizations, this partnership helps bring life to accessible outdoor fitness spaces that welcome every member of the community. As part of NFC’s bold mission to build a Fitness Court® within a 10-minute bike ride of every American, the Cincinnati area is now front and center in a growing national movement. National Fitness Campaign plans to welcome its 750th community by 2025, uniting the country’s largest public-private partnership in support of wellness.
The Fitness Court® is the world’s best outdoor gym that lets users leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations. Created for adults of all abilities aged 14+, the Fitness Court® workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace. Users may also 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.
“National Fitness Campaign is excited to welcome UC Health Cincinnati as they join the growing network of leading healthcare sponsors across the country, prioritizing equitable outdoor exercise across the Cincinnati region,” said Mitch Menaged, founder of National Fitness Campaign. “This program will deliver tremendous resources to contribute to the important mission of improving health outcomes as the network of Fitness Courts grows across the region. We look forward to working with UC Health (Cincinnati) to make this campaign a great success.”
Application Process Now Open to Bring a Fitness Court to Local Communities
Municipalities, schools and other organizations who own accessible public space may now apply for grant funding to assist in building Fitness Courts® across the region, courtesy of UC Health Cincinnati and National Fitness Campaign. Grant recipients will receive a wellness toolkit, education and design resources to assist in planning, funding and launching their outdoor Fitness Court and community wellness campaign.
For more information on UC Health’s support of NFC, please visit https://www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com/ohio-cincinnati-region.
UC Health (Cincinnati) Media Contact
Heather Chura Smith | (513) 508-3368
heather.chura-smith@uchealth.com
NFC Media Contact
Sarah Morgan | (831) 601-2438
sarah@nfchq.com
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About UC Health
A national leader in academic medicine, UC Health serves Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Named a Forbes Best-In-State Employer, UC Health, in partnership with the University of Cincinnati, delivers innovative and compassionate care across four campuses and 70+ outpatient locations, including University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute and University of Cincinnati Cancer Center. Our expert teams are at the forefront of groundbreaking research and clinical care in areas like oncology, transplant, emergency medicine, and neurosciences, setting new standards for patient outcomes. Learn more at www.uchealth.com.
About National Fitness Campaign
Founded in San Francisco in 1979, National Fitness Campaign 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 2025, 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 nationalfitnesscampaign.com and follow along on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.