Above/Below: The Naperville Park District has announced a new project as part of the National Fitness Campaign to build healthy infrastructure.
A new, outdoor dynamic circuit-training system designed for use by teens and adults is coming to Frontier Sports Complex in the spring of 2022. Part of a national initiative launched by National Fitness Campaign, the new fitness court allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout outdoors.
National Fitness Campaign is a consulting organization that partners with cities, schools and park districts to plan, build and fund healthy infrastructure. National Fitness Campaign developed the trademarked seven-station outdoor fitness system in 2012 hoping to inspire municipalities to transform public spaces into community fitness hubs. There are an estimated 250 fitness courts installed nationally, each of which is free to the public, adaptable for all fitness levels and works with a fitness court app. The fitness court planned for Frontier Sports Complex is the first one in Naperville.
Naperville Park District staff recently announced that Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush has officially signed on as the title sponsor for the fitness court at Frontier Sports Complex. Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (MOR) is an international leader in musculoskeletal health care and research that offers localized access to the renowned faculty of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Rush University Medical Center. MOR is committed to delivering best-in-class technology and surgical techniques that elevate outcomes for both professional athletes and ordinary patients.
“We are proud to partner with the Naperville Park District to launch this new community fitness court,” stated Dr. Brian Cole, Managing Partner, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. “We are committed to helping people stay active at every age and stage of life, and we believe this fitness court provides a unique opportunity for the local community to have more access to achieve that goal.”
The title sponsorship in the amount of $50,000 will help fund the cost of the fitness court, which is estimated at $165,000. Naperville Park District also was selected to receive a $25,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign in partnership with the Illinois Park and Recreation Association to support the fitness court.
Additionally, StretchLab NapervilleWest is sponsoring the fitness court at the supporting sponsor level of $2,500. StretchLab is a customized, one-on-one assisted stretching studio that helps clients meet their flexibility goals, from increasing their range of motion to training for a competitive sport.
“We are grateful to Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush and its Naperville clinic for their partnership in helping to bring this great new facility to Naperville,” said Executive Director Ray McGury. “The time is right to provide more opportunities for outdoor fitness. The challenge course at Wolf’s Crossing is tremendously popular and we know that the fitness court will be as well.”
The Park District has installed a concrete pad (currently covered with new snow) for the fitness court, which will be located just south of the 95th Street Community Plaza, on the north side of Frontier Sports Complex at 3109 Cedar Glade Drive.
Installation of the fitness equipment and wall is planned for spring 2022, with an opening celebration following project completion and when weather permits.
