Courting Creativity: Huntsville’s first Fitness Court opens at John Hunt Park
Published on November 6, 2022
The City of Huntsville and Arts Huntsville opened the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) Fitness Court® public art installation at John Hunt Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 10.
The new Fitness Court installation features a cross-training exercise platform and artwork of world-renowned artist Keith Haring.
“It’s fantastic to see artwork incorporated into our public projects across the city, Mayor Tommy Battle said. “It’s even more meaningful to see artistry wrapped into wellness, and we thank our partners at Arts Huntsville for leading this effort.”
For Arts Huntsville Executive Director Allison Dillon-Jauken, the intersection of public art and public fitness is an exciting new venture for Huntsville’s public art program and our city parks.
“With the Keith Haring Fitness Court at John Hunt Park, visitors will interact with artwork they may not otherwise see outside of a museum. In the months ahead, they’ll be able to experience other artwork at fitness courts in city parks across our community,” Dillon-Jauken said.
Following the ribbon cutting on Nov. 10, a Parks and Recreation fitness trainer led community members in demonstrating how the innovative outdoor circuit training center provides a full-body workout in just seven minutes.
“The ability to enjoy a free workout, while surrounded by the vibrant work of local and international artists, is a unique experience,” said Parks and Recreation Director James Gossett. “We’re excited about this addition to John Hunt Park and look forward to the upcoming installations at Legacy Park, Apollo Park and California Street Park.”
ABOUT THE NFC
Established in 1979, the NFC’s goal is for a free outdoor Fitness Court® to be within a 10-minute bike ride of every American.
According to the NFC, the Fitness Court® is accessible and designed for people of all abilities. Users can rotate through seven zones, leveraging their bodyweight at different angles and levels of resistance to improve their performance over time. The court is suitable for those ages 14 and up.
The Huntsville locations of the NFC Fitness Court® are made possible through a partnership with the City of Huntsville and Arts Huntsville. To learn more about how the non-profit is bringing art into public spaces, visit artshuntsville.org.