City of Columbia, Prisma Health® and National Fitness Campaign launch two Fitness Courts® bringing free community wellness to South Carolina’s Capital
October 30, 2024
The City of Columbia, Prisma Health® and National Fitness Campaign (NFC) unveiled not one, but two new outdoor Fitness Courts® at Greenview Park and Finlay Park. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Greenview Park earlier this morning while the Finlay Park Fitness Court will open at a later date. Finlay Park is part of the larger park construction project slated for completion by fall 2025. These Fitness Courts will become the first in Columbia and the sixth and seventh, respectively, statewide.
This exciting program is a featured part of the nationwide initiative launched by National Fitness Campaign, on a mission to change health outcomes in America. The award-winning initiative welcomed its 500th healthy community in 2023 and is now funded to deliver vital outdoor wellness programs to 1,000 healthy communities by 2025 to help get people moving outdoors and to fight the rising fiscal and humanitarian costs of physical inactivity.
“At Prisma Health, we are dedicated to more than just expert care within our hospitals and facilities—we’re committed to empowering our community to take charge of their health every day, said Anthony Jackson, President of Prisma Health Baptist Hospital and vice president of External Affairs and Accountable Communities. By partnering with the City of Columbia, we’re bringing opportunities for movement into the heart of our neighborhoods, where healthy habits can flourish. Our hope is that people move more, feel better, and maybe even see us a little less, as we work together to inspire health and strengthen our community.”
“We are committed to creating healthier Columbia as an investment in our future,” said Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. “These new Fitness Courts are a testament to that commitment, offering residents a convenient and enjoyable way to stay active outside.”
The Fitness Court is the world’s best outdoor gym and allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven stations in just seven minutes. 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.
“We are excited to have South Carolina’s capital city join us in the journey to improve health and wellness as we work to make a powerful and long lasting impact on longevity and happiness by building healthy communities across America,’’ said Mitch Menaged, founder of National Fitness Campaign. “The addition of these two Fitness Courts, along with digital wellness programming, demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the health and wellbeing in Columbia.”
Residents are invited to visit the Fitness Court and learn about upcoming community wellness events and programming by visiting https://parksandrec.columbiasc.gov/ or contacting the city’s Parks and Recreation Department at 803-545-3100
About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a private nonprofit health company and the largest health care organization in South Carolina. The company has 29,309 team members, 18 acute and specialty hospitals, 2,827 licensed beds, 305 practice sites, and more than 5,400 employed and independent clinicians across its clinically integrated inVio Health Network. Along with this innovative network, Prisma Health serves almost 1.5 million unique patients annually in its 21-county market area that covers 50% of South Carolina. Connect with Prisma Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter/X. Visit www.PrismaHealth.org.
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 welcomed its 500th healthy community in 2023, 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. Follow along with National Fitness Campaign at nationalfitnesscampaign.com or on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
