Newsroom | 2026 News Releases

State-of-the-Art outdoor Fitness Court^® coming to Gene Cummins Park 

FORT STOCKTON, Texas — The city of Fort Stockton, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and National Fitness Campaign announced a partnership to bring an outdoor Fitness Court and digital wellness programming to the city. The Fitness Court at Gene Cummins Park will open 10 a.m. Sept. 10 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  

The city, BCBSTX and NFC developed the Fitness Court 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 where people use their body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations. 

Created for those at least 14 years old of all abilities, the Fitness Court workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace. Users also may download the free Fitness Court app, a coach-in-your-pocket that expands the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience. Fort Stockton is among more than 50 campaign partners building a network of Fitness Courts with help from BCBSTX statewide. 

“Your body is your life. Take care of it. Exercising starts with your first step. Take it, you will not regret it,” said Mayor Paul Casias.

“Physical activity is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to improve overall health,” said BCBSTX Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mark Chassay. “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 Fort Stockton 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 NFC Founder Mitch Menaged. “The addition of the outdoor Fitness Court, along with digital wellness programming, demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the health and wellbeing within the Fort Stockton community.” 

Residents may attend the event and try the Fitness Court. Contact the Fort Stockton EDC at 432-336-2264 for information. Visit https://www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com/texas for information about BCBSTXs support of NFC.

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About Fort Stockton
Fort Stockton is a proud West Texas community and the county seat of Pecos County, sitting along Interstate 10 between San Antonio and El Paso. With roots going back to 1859, it's always been a place where people put down real roots and look out for one another. That spirit still drives the city today. Fort Stockton believes in investing in its people, and the new Fitness Court is the latest proof: a free, world-class space where neighbors can move, sweat, and cheer each other on right in the heart of town. It's small-town Texas at its best, wide-open skies, genuine hospitality, and a quality of life that's easy to love and hard to leave. 

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
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 Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas). 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 2026, 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

FORT STOCKTON
Jeremy Martinez
jeremy.martinez@fortstockton.gov

BCBSTX
Tamara Gibson
media@bcbstx.com

NFC
Sarah Morgan
sarah@nfchq.com
831-601-2438