Newsroom | 2026 News Releases

State-of-the-art outdoor fitness court coming to Mayor Pablo Peña Park

WESLACO, Texas — The City of Weslaco, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and National Fitness Campaign today announced a partnership to bring an outdoor Fitness Court^® and digital wellness programming to Mayor Pablo Peña Park in the City of Weslaco. The Fitness Court, located at 300 N Airport Dr, Weslaco, TX 78596, will open March 10 at 10 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  

The Fitness Court was developed by City of Weslaco, 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 lets 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 Studio workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace. Users also 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 Weslaco is one of 40+ Campaign Partners building a network of Fitness Courts across the state, with the help of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. 

“The addition of this Fitness Court is a meaningful investment in the health and well-being of our community. We are excited to host this ribbon cutting ceremony and officially welcome a space that encourages residents of all ages to stay active and prioritize their fitness goals. This new amenity is a valuable addition to our park system, and we are proud to be part of a project that promotes healthier lifestyles right here in Weslaco," said Mayor Adrian Gonzalez.

“Physical activity is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to improve overall health,” said Dr. Mark Chassay, chief medical officer at BCBSTX. “By investing in Fitness Courts across Texas, we’re creating more opportunities for people to move, connect, and build healthier, more equitable communities for the future.”

“We are excited to have the City of Weslaco 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 City of Weslaco community.”

Residents are invited to attend the launch event on March 10 at 10 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. 

###

About the City of Weslaco
 Weslaco is a growing city in Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Founded in 1919, its early economy was rooted in agriculture—particularly citrus, vegetables, cotton, and grain, but it has since diversified to include retail, healthcare, education, logistics, and light manufacturing. The city is known for its strong community spirit and rich cultural heritage, influenced by its border location and predominantly Hispanic population. Education and healthcare are central to the community, with services provided by the Weslaco Independent School District and Knapp Medical Center. With ongoing investments in infrastructure and public amenities, Weslaco continues to balance its agricultural roots with steady economic growth and development.

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 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. National Fitness Campaign 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. 

Media Contacts

City of Weslaco
Magali Vega
rvaldez@weslacotx.gov

BCBSTX
Tamara Gibson
media@bcbstx.com

NFC
Sarah Morgan
sarah@nfchq.com