From staff reports
Clarion University of Pennsylvania invites the community to the opening of its new National Fitness Court, located outside of Gemmell Recreation Center on the Clarion campus.
Clarion was awarded a $30,000 NFC Fitness Grant to build the outdoor fitness court as part of the national 2019 Healthy College Campaign.
Clarion is one of 20 schools in the country and the first in Pennsylvania to receive the grant and the invitation to join NFC’s pilot collegiate fitness campaign.
Jim McGee, Center for Wellness director, said the university sought the grant to provide outdoor fitness opportunities to students, faculty, staff and the community. The 32-square-foot, open-air court will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is free to use; no membership or university affiliation is required.
“The system is designed to work for every size and shape, age and ability level,” said Cree Larson, National Fitness Court’s director of partnership activation. “It’s digitally connected, with a great Fitness Court application that includes programming, classes, guided workouts and challenges.”
Larson said the Fitness Court features seven movement zones with equipment intended to work the whole body as the user moves through the various zones. Zones can be modified to accommodate various fitness levels. The equipment is made of stainless steel.
The court will not be staffed, but a network of university Fitness Court ambassadors will hold classes on the court and facilitate free programming.