Meriden Prioritizes Community Health and Wellness with the Addition of a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Fitness Court®

Meriden, Kansas (May 20, 2022) – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) and the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) are pleased to announce the launch of an outdoor BCBSKS Fitness Court® at Meriden City Park. The Fitness Court® was officially unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., Friday, May 20. This launch is a result of the statewide partnership between BCBSKS and NFC to expand free access to high quality workouts and create equitable access to exercise in communities around the state of Kansas.

The new BCBSKS Fitness Court® at Meriden City Park is an open-air wellness center that allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout. Created with adults of all ages and abilities in mind, the Fitness Court® is adaptable for all fitness levels. New users can also download the free Fitness Court App® — a coach-in-your-pocket style platform — that transforms the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness ecosystem. The Fitness Court® App is available for iOS and Android.

Meriden is the first outdoor Fitness Court in a series of 10 BCBSKS Fitness Courts® that will be constructed in easily accessible public spaces through 2022. NFC's award-winning initiative is now supporting more than 200 cities across America. This project at Meriden City Park would not be possible without the generosity of local sponsors, Kansas Recreation and Parks Association, R&S Maintenance, and Mammoth Sports and Construction

“This City of Meriden is extremely pleased to partner with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and the National Fitness Campaign on this community health project for the citizens of Meriden. Providing such an incredible, outdoor experience for the citizens is such a positive for our community, and we look forward to it being a central hub in the city for years to come,” said Dana Boyer, Meriden mayor. “We are also very proud to be the first city in Kansas to install a fitness court of this type and appreciate that our partners recognize the need for amenities like these in all Kansas cities, large and small.”

The financial support for this program came from Blue Health Initiatives, a program through BCBSKS which supports research-based solutions that make Kansas a healthier place to live, work and play. It takes a holistic approach that focuses on the policies, systems and environments that shape Kansans’ lives.

“We need more innovative solutions to address the physical activity needs of all Kansans. Solutions that will level the playing field and allow everyone a safe place to enjoy the outdoors and improve their health,” said Virginia Barnes, director, Blue Health Initiatives at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. “We believe that all people deserve this opportunity, and we are proud to partner with NFC to show our commitment to improving the health of all Kansans.”

National Fitness Campaign developed the trademarked seven-station system in 2012 hoping to inspire municipalities to transform public spaces into community fitness hubs. NFC is growing across the country and the campaign is planning its 500th Healthy Community in 2022. The program is now funded to reach 10,000 Fitness Courts by 2030.

About BCBSKS

For more than 80 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has built a reputation of trust with its members and contracting providers by providing outstanding customer service while quickly and accurately processing claims; fairly administering benefit plans and contracts; offering programs, services and tools to help members improve or maintain their health; and operating under the highest ethical standards while being good stewards of premium dollars. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and is the state’s largest insurer, serving all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. For more information, visit www.bcbsks.com.

About NFC

National Fitness Campaign (NFC) is a social enterprise – founded in San Francisco, California in 1979 – that specializes in funding, activating and promoting healthy infrastructure through partnerships with cities and schools. Now operating in over 150 cities, NFC's unique program delivers consulting services and an integrated wellness initiative to communities, centered on the world’s best outdoor gym: The Fitness Court®. Our mission is to design healthy infrastructure for cities to improve the quality of life for people. Learn more about NFC at NationalFitnessCampaign.com and follow us on social @NatFitCampaign & #fitnesscourt.