Daniel P. McCoy
Our County
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy, MVP Health Care, and National Fitness Campaign (NFC) today officially cut the ribbon on the new Fitness Court® Studio at Tawasentha Park in the Town of Guilderland and opened it to the public. This is a partnership offering free, outdoor fitness, and this is the first Fitness Court Studio in the State of New York. The MVP Health Care Fitness Court Studio will provide the community with increased access to outdoor exercise programs and will improve health and wellness. The ribbon cutting ceremony featured a demonstration from personal trainer Sarah James of The Balance Beast showcasing how residents can utilize the state-of-the-art facility, as well as a yoga class led by Nikki Rogers on the opposite side of the Fitness Court Studio.
The Fitness Court Studio is a free, open-air wellness center, which comes equipped with exercise apparatuses that allow users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout. It is twice the size of a standard Fitness Court, providing over 2,000 square feet of healthy infrastructure. With the Fitness Court Studio, additional space is available for exercise classes such as yoga, Pilates, Zumba or stretching to take place while the Fitness Court is utilized for simultaneous group and individual workouts.
Created with adults of all ages and ability in mind, the workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels and allow users to move at their own pace. Users can also download the free Fitness Court app, which acts as a coach-in-your-pocket and transforms the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness ecosystem. Albany County will be the first in the Capital Region and New York State to build the expanded version of the Fitness Court – the Fitness Court Studio.
“Today’s ribbon cutting on our new Fitness Court Studio is further evidence of Albany County’s commitment to health and wellness and another exciting achievement. It is also another example of how important it is to have local partners who share in these values and help us have a profound impact on the community we serve,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. “Thanks to MVP Health Care, National Fitness Campaign and the Town of Guilderland, we’re starting the summer off right with free, outdoor fitness. I’m looking forward to seeing this facility being utilized by individuals and organized classes alike.”
Throughout the summer months, a number of tutorial courses will be scheduled at the MVP Health Care Fitness Court Studio that will allow both individuals and fitness instructors to learn best practices for utilizing the exercise equipment and unlocking the full potential of the facility. A schedule of tutorial courses is below and will be posted to the Albany County website at the link here. Participants should bring water and wear comfortable clothes and sneakers. Classes do not meet in the case of rain.
• Tawasentha Park Fitness Court Free Exercise Class for Active, Older Adults
Date: Thursday, July 13, 2023
Time: 5:30 – 6:15 pm
This class is based on movement for active, older adults, but all persons of any fitness level are welcome! This class will be instructed by Certified Personal Trainer, Sarah James – The Balance Beast.
• MVP Fitness Court Tutorial at Tawasentha Park
Date: Thursday, July 20, 2023
Time: 5:30 – 6 pm
(Rain date: Thursday, July 27, 5:30 – 6 pm)
Join Certified Personal Trainer, Sarah James – The Balance Beast, for an overview of the Fitness Court and how it can be incorporated into your workouts.
“At MVP Health Care, we’re thrilled to unveil the first state-of-the-art studio Fitness Court featuring a platform for instructor-led classes, which will provide the community with yet another opportunity to prioritize their health and well-being,” said Chris Del Vecchio, President and CEO of MVP Health Care. “As a leading health care services company, we believe in the power of community coalitions to drive positive change. Our partnership with Albany County is a prime example of this commitment. We’re proud to join forces with the county to bring this innovative fitness solution to the people of Albany County and beyond. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or just starting your wellness journey, we invite you to join us on the court and take advantage of this exciting new community resource. Together, we can build a healthier, more vibrant community.”
“As we continue our mission of building a Fitness Court within a 10-minute bike ride of every American, the National Fitness Campaign is proud to welcome Albany County and the Town of Guilderland to the campaign in New York,” said Mitch Menaged, founder of NFC. “Together with MVP Health Care, we’re building a wellness culture focused on healthy equity to combat the rising costs of sedentary lifestyles.”
“The Town is thrilled that this state-of-the-art fitness court studio facility and easy-to-use exercise equipment is ready for use,” said Guilderland Town Supervisor Peter Barber. “MVP Health Care and Albany County have been wonderful partners in helping to bring this latest exciting addition to Tawasentha Park. The timing is perfect as it will complement other nearby adult activities for the outdoor season in a beautiful setting.”
“I would like to thank Albany County, MVP Health Care and Supervisor Barber for their work in bringing this project to fruition for the local area and Town of Guilderland residents,” said Guilderland Parks and Recreation Director Colin J. Gallup. “We encourage people to come out for a run or walk and to visit the Fitness Court Studio for an outdoor workout. We are excited to add it to the outdoor options at Tawasentha Park, and appreciate the partnership with the County and MVP Health Care that was able to make this improvement happen.”
The MVP Health Care Fitness Court Studio in Tawasentha Park is a result of a collaboration between MVP Health Care and NFC to expand free access to high quality workouts for communities around the state. Additionally, County Executive McCoy and Albany County have a unique partnership through the naming rights of the MVP Arena and the Innovation Fund, which helped make this possible. The purpose of the fund is to improve the overall health and vitality of the surrounding community. The Innovation Fund was first announced when County Executive McCoy awarded the naming rights of the county-owned arena to MVP Health Care in November of 2021. Included within the naming rights contract is an annual $1.4 million over five years for the Innovation Fund and community projects.
To learn more about the MVP Health Care Fitness Courts, visit:
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