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First Fitness Court® in Reeves County expands Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Campaign Footprint
More than fifty community members, civic leaders, first respondents and local mascots in the Town of Pecos City celebrated the launch of free, accessible outdoor fitness at Maxey Park on September 19, 2023. The event marked a milestone in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Campaign (BCBSTX) as the first West Texas community and the 17th overall across the BCBSTX Fitness Court® network.
With a population of roughly 13,000 residents, the Town of Pecos City was actively looking to provide their community with the best programming at no cost to residents. The Fitness Court's location in Maxey Park, the primary park situated within the central area of town, offered the perfect location for the world’s best outdoor gym. Equipped with a shade structure and soon-to-be connected walking path, residents can now get a free, full-body workout in as little as 7 minutes at the Fitness Court® rain or shine.
"Getting people out and exercising and moving around in the community is something that we really need to look out [for]," said City Manager Charles Lino during the ribbon-cutting event. "We hope this gives our citizens the opportunity to do just that."
The Fitness Court® at Maxey Park is within walking and biking distance of 6,105 people – providing free, accessible fitness to nearly half of Pecos residents.
January Zermeno, Pecos resident and a veteran of the US Marine Corps, was excited to discover the new amenity at Maxey Park. She and her husband explored the outdoor fitness option and each downloaded the Fitness Court® App to get started.
“We were surprised by how simple it was to use the Fitness Court® App. It gave us exercises based on our own individual level of difficulty and our goals. I plan to add the Fitness Court® to my weekly plan, diversifying my routine. Going to the gym consistently can become monotonous and the workout plans on the Fitness Court® App can keep my routine from becoming stale. It was a great deal of fun with no guesswork. I believe that physical activity keeps me accountable – it helps me think better and feel better."
The Town of Pecos City has paved the way for other communities in West Texas. By embracing outdoor fitness options and creating accessible spaces for physical activity, the town takes a significant step towards building a healthier and more engaged community. The BCBCTX campaign is excited to welcome the City of Monahans, Odessa College and the City of Midland in 2024 – further expanding the network in West Texas.
To date, 20 open BCBSTX funded Fitness Courts® are accessible to 15,224 residents by foot and 328, 321 residents by bike across the state of Texas.
