Grant brings new fitness feature to Dothan’s James Oates Park

DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) – Dothan is receiving thousands of dollars in grants to add a new fitness feature to the city.

Several years ago, Dothan Leisure Services installed a national fitness court at one of its parks.

Now the city has an opportunity to add another outdoor gym to encourage people to get into fitness.

The Dothan City Commission voted to accept a grant that will help fund adding a fitness court to James Oates Park.

That grant is from the National Fitness Campaign, which Dothan is no stranger to.

“We have had a partnership with the National Fitness Campaign since 2017. They are in constant contact with us. They supply us with new programs and new information continually and they reached out to us about this grant opportunity,” Tyson Carter, assistant director of operations for Dothan Leisure Services, said.

The $50,000 grant will go towards a national fitness court, much like the one at Westgate Park.

“We like to install these next to trails that are highly used. Obviously, the Westgate trail is highly used and the court there is very popular. We have identified James Oates Park as another place to put one. We have an active trail there and a lot of trail users. This court will fit really nicely with that activity in that park,” Carter said.

The court is an outdoor gym meant to attract different fitness backgrounds.

“Fitness courts are designed specifically for the bare bones beginner in mind all the way up to the most advanced cross fitter. You can do it with your family, you can do it as part of a massive body reconstruction program,” Carter said.

The court will be located close to the pavilion and playground.

It is expected to be completed by Spring 2025.

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