Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is on a mission to help build even healthier, inclusive communities across the state.

Starting in 2023, Blue Cross and the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) will bring 10 outdoor Fitness Courts® to publicly accessible places throughout Minnesota. This collaboration continues to build on the commitments Blue Cross has made to eliminate racial and health inequities in all Minnesota communities, creating opportunities to be physically active to positively impact health.

The Fitness Court® is designed to work with a free app that focuses on functional fitness and bodyweight training. Built on a 38’x38’ footprint, each court is built with durable materials that are meant to last for decades in any climate – even Minnesota winters! They will also include an emphasis on community art beautification around the courts, commissioning designs from local Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) artists, adding culturally appropriate and enriching artwork that will benefit the entire community.

Based in San Francisco, the National Fitness Campaign has helped to open more than 400 free outdoor Fitness Courts® in 42 states since 2017. Their goal is to provide a free outdoor Fitness Court® within a 10-minute bike ride of every American.

 

“All Minnesotans benefit from a culture of shared wellness,” said Bukata Hayes, vice president of racial and health equity and chief equity officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. “Blue Cross and National Fitness Campaign have common goals of advancing racial and health equity opportunities with these types of community efforts. I’m looking forward to the positive impact that we can make together.”

As the network of Fitness Courts® continues to grow nationally, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota will serve as the official sponsor of the National Fitness Center within the state.

How to apply

Municipalities, schools, and other organizations that own accessible public space are eligible to apply for grant funding. The application process runs through February 1, 2023, with recipients being notified by March 1, 2023.

More information about the programs is available here.