Maine Celebrates Third State-of-the-Art Fitness Court at UMF®
FARMINGTON, Maine (August 27, 2024) —Maine’s newest Outdoor Fitness Court® will open on the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) campus on Friday, September 6. UMF is the first higher education partner to partner with Community Health Options and the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) as part of a campaign to build fitness courts across the state.
The UMF Fitness Court will open at 131 Perkins St. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from noon to 2 p.m. This is the third fitness court in the state, following two that opened in 2022 at Simard Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston and the VFW Park and Field on Canoe Club Road in Hampden.
The Fitness Court offers free access to outdoor exercise machines for people of all fitness levels aged 14 and over. With seven exercise stations, you can get a complete workout in just seven minutes using your own body weight.
Participants can adapt their training to their abilities and work out at their own pace. They can also download the free Fitness Court app, which acts as a coach in their pocket, elevating the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience. UMF's Fitness Court is open to students, campus staff and the community.
“Free access to fitness opportunities is essential to building healthy communities,” said Kevin Lewis, president and CEO of Community Health Options. “We are proud to be the exclusive sponsor of NFC in Maine and are excited to open this fitness court with UMF, where students, faculty, staff and the entire community can benefit from workouts that help build overall health and well-being.”
UMF President Joseph McDonnell added, “As part of our commitment to public health, UMF is providing new and exciting health promotion opportunities for our students and all Farmington area residents. We encourage our students and community members to be lifelong learners and to engage in a lifelong fitness journey. We are pleased to be the first higher education institution partner in Maine to participate in the Community Health Options Fitness Court campaign.”
“The National Fitness Campaign is proud to welcome UMF to the campaign as Maine's premier higher education partner, promoting health and wellness on campus and in the Farmington area,” said Mitch Menage, founder of the National Fitness Campaign. “The addition of the fitness court and digital wellness programming demonstrates a tremendous commitment to health and wellness.”
Residents of the campus and greater Farmington area are invited to try out the Fitness Court at a launch event on Friday, September 6, 2024 from 12:00-2:00 pm. For more information, visit https://www.umf.maine.edu/events/ or contact UMF Associate Director of Fitness and Recreation Alison Thayer at [email protected]. To learn more about Community Health Options’ support of NFC, visit nationalfitnesscampaign.com/maine.
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About Community Health Options
Community Health Options is the only Maine-based, not-for-profit, member-driven health insurer and plan administrator offering comprehensive health plans for individuals, families and businesses. Community Health Options offers a robust network of 48,000 health care providers in New England and plans covering all of the U.S. for individuals and businesses. Follow Community Health Options on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.
About the University of Maine at Farmington
A nationally recognized public liberal arts university known for its commitment to the creative arts, teacher education, health arts and sciences, the environment, business and public service, the University of Maine at Farmington offers a challenging yet supportive environment that prepares students for both careers and further learning. Located in the heart of Maine's four-season outdoor recreation region, UMF is a welcoming, tight-knit academic community that fosters rich professional careers, active citizenship and a lasting love of learning.
About the Nationwide Fitness Campaign
Founded in San Francisco in 1979, the National Fitness Campaign is a health consulting firm providing programs and services to cities, schools and sponsors. Our mission is to build healthy communities across the nation. The Campaign delivers integrated health initiatives centered around the world's best outdoor gyms, the Fitness Court®. The National Fitness Campaign continues to expand the nation's largest public-private partnership in support of health, with a goal of celebrating its 500th healthy community in 2023 and having a Fitness Court® within a 10-minute bike ride of every American. Follow the National Fitness Campaign at nationalfitnesscampaign.com or on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Editor's note:
Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2024/08/RP245-001A.jpg
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Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2024/08/RP245-001B.jpg
Photo credit: Submitted Image
Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2024/08/RP245-001C.jpg
Photo credit: Submitted Image
Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2024/08/CROP-2-University-Logo-2-Color.jpg
Photo credit: UMF Image
