New Outdoor Fitness Court Opens at Veterans Memorial Park

Hernando County officials and community partners formally opened a National Fitness Court at Veterans Memorial Park on Spring Hill Drive during a ribbon cutting held December 11 and 12. The outdoor facility includes seven exercise stations designed for bodyweight workouts and is intended to serve residents age 14 and older across all ability levels. Equipment supports exercises such as pull ups, box squats, inverted rows, back extensions, mountain climbers, and reverse lunges.

The $155,000 installation combined a $30,000 Healthy City Grant from the National Fitness Campaign with roughly $125,000 in county funds for purchase and installation. Partners on the project included Hernando County Government, TampaWell, which is activated by Tampa General Hospital, the National Fitness Campaign, and the YMCA. The YMCA led demonstrations and distributed materials about safe use of the court and the Fitness Court app, a "coach-in-your-pocket" resource that guides users through workouts and progressions.

County and health system leaders framed the court as a preventive health investment intended to improve fitness access across the county. TampaWell provided an instructional wrap on the equipment and will support community programming tied to the opening, aiming to help residents learn movements and adapt workouts to differing fitness levels. Organizers emphasized that the outdoor, no cost setting can lower barriers for people who face transportation, financial, or scheduling obstacles to traditional gym membership.

Public health experts note that improving access to safe, guided physical activity opportunities can contribute to chronic disease prevention, mental health benefits, and reduced health care costs over time. For Hernando County, the project also highlights how local government funds combined with health system and nonprofit partners can expand resources in neighborhoods that have historically had uneven access to fitness infrastructure.

The court's placement in Veterans Memorial Park situates the resource within an existing community gathering space, where planners hope programming and visible activity will normalize exercise and invite new users. As the county moves forward, officials and partners say they will monitor participation and look for ways to connect the Fitness Court to broader wellness initiatives and to ensure equitable access for residents across the county.