“Fitness Court” opens at Greenview Park, three more outdoor gyms on the way – ABC Columbia

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Patrons of Greenview Park on David Street in Columbia will now have access to a free outdoor gym.

Leaders with the City of Columbia and Prisma Health are announcing four new “Fitness Courts” that will be placed at local parks — a nationwide initiative launched by a group known as the National Fitness Campaign.

“I want to let you know today that these Fitness Courts, with this investment, with the donation from Prisma Health, the grant that we received from the National Fitness Campaign, this is an investment back into our community of almost $1 million,” says Assistant City Manager, Henry Simons.

The goal is to offer citizens a free option to help live a more healthy lifestyle and help reduce the risk of preventable diseases.

Stephen Venugopal, Sports Performance Manager with Prisma Health’s Apex Athletic Performance, says the equipment offers an array of push, pull, cardio, core, and agility workouts for people of all ages and capabilities.

“I could literally have someone who is an advanced athlete, and someone who’s a grandparent coming off of a knee replacement — and both of them could get an effective form of exercise here,” says Venugopal.

Seniors who use Greenview Park seem to agree.

“It looks like things that we can do, that’s not gonna be stressful on our joints, and that’s the key when you get older,” says Sandra Wilson.

“I’m already old,” jokes Doris Hill, “I was taught to move, my Mama said get up and move, every morning she said get up, and move.”

Venugopal showed ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams how some of the equipment works.

“They’ve used shapes incredibly well so if I wanted to do a lateral lunge, I have an elevated surface as well as a bank to be able to get into my hips and be able to push off here…There’s also different options here for rowing and pulling, so this here would be the most beginner level for rowing, over here, you’d have an advanced level for pulling,” he says.

Tutorials are also available through the Fitness Court app.

The second station will be available at Finlay Park in the coming weeks, with two other Fitness Courts in the works as well.