SAN BENITO, Texas — City of San Benito, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and National Fitness Campaign (NFC) today announced a partnership to bring an outdoor Fitness Court and digital wellness programming to San Benito. The Fitness Court, located at Kennedy Park, will open on April 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
This Fitness Court was developed by the City of San Benito, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and NFC to expand free access to high-quality workouts and create equitable access to exercise for communities across the region. The Fitness Court is the world’s best outdoor gym that empowers users leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations.
Created for adults of all abilities aged 14+, the Fitness Court workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace. Users may download the free Fitness Court App, which acts as a coach-in-your-pocket and enhances the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience. The City of San Benito is one of 35 Campaign Partners building a network of Fitness Courts across the state with the help of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.
“The City of San Benito is deeply committed to enhancing the quality of life and health for all our residents. We are incredibly grateful to our partners for their generous support in making this state-of-the-art fitness court studio available to the public at no cost,” said Mayor Ricardo Guerra. “This is an exciting addition to our community, and we can't wait to see everyone take full advantage of this amazing resource.”
As part of the nationwide effort to build Fitness Courts, grant funding is available to support local artists collaborating with their communities. The City of San Benito proudly highlights the work of Cecilia Sierra, a local artist known for her impactful murals throughout the region. Sierra’s contribution to the Fitness Court will bring creative and wellness benefits to the community.
“In addition to improvement in physical health, physical activity improves behavioral health conditions and can foster opportunities to make new social connections,” said Dr. Mark Chassay, chief medical officer at BCBSTX. “About half of U.S. adults are not getting enough physical activity in their daily lives. Helping fund these Fitness Courts is just one example of how we can support optimal health outcomes for all Texans, right in their own communities.”
“We are excited to have the City of San Benito join us in the journey to improve health and wellness as we work to make a powerful and long-lasting impact on health outcomes and happiness by building healthy communities across America,’’ said Mitch Menaged, founder of National Fitness Campaign. “The addition of the outdoor Fitness Court, along with digital wellness programming, demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the health and wellbeing within the San Benito community.”
Residents are invited to attend the launch event on April 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. to try the Fitness Court. For more information on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’s support of NFC, please visit https://www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com/texas.
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Celebrating 95 years of helping improve the health of Texans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas — the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas — is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with more than 168,000 physicians and health care practitioners, and 550 hospitals to serve nearly eight million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico). Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
About National Fitness Campaign
Founded in San Francisco in 1979, National Fitness Campaign (NFC) is a wellness consulting firm that provides programs and services to cities, schools and sponsors. Our mission is to build healthy communities nationwide. The campaign delivers an integrated wellness initiative, centered around the Fitness Court® — the world's best outdoor gym. is preparing to welcome its 750th healthy community in 2025, as it continues to grow the country’s largest public-private partnership in support of wellness with the goal of building a Fitness Court® within a 10-minute bike ride of every American.
BCBSTX
Parris Kane
media@bcbstx.com
City of San Benito
Cristina Garcia
cgarcia@cityofsanbenito.com
National Fitness Campaign
Sarah Morgan
sarah@nfchq.com