Northport Partners with Blue Cross, Blue Shield on Now-Open Fitness Court

A public-private partnership came to fruition in Northport Thursday morning, where city leaders cut the ribbon on a new outdoor fitness court designed for everyone 14 and up.

The space is finished and ready to use now on 30th Avenue near the city's wastewater treatment plant.

Built as part of a partnership between the city of Northport, Blue Cross Blue Shield and National Fitness Campaign, the court offers free-to-use equipment and a code to scan with your phone's camera to see a guide on ways to use each of the seven stations installed at the site.

The insurance agency and the NFC have funded and helped install such courts in more than 500 cities across America and are aiming to raise that number to 1,000 soon.

"You know, we really want you to take advantage of this - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama believes in providing cities with innovative platforms for their residents to come out and get healthy so that they can live the healthiest lifestyles possible," said Sophie Martin, the director of Corporate Communications and Community Relations for BCBS. "When it's free, I mean, you can't ask for more than that."

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The city council was on hand to cut a ceremonial ribbon and welcome residents to the site Thursday morning.

"This has been a long time coming but also happened very quickly," said council president Chrisy Bobo, who credited city administrator Glenda Webb, city engineer Tara Tubs, grant writer Savannah Nelson and the rest of 'the greatest staff in America' for helping bring the fitness court to Northport.

"This was really a treasure, to find and to partner with Blue Cross Blue Shield and we're happy to be a part of their 500 Healthy Communities Across America," Bobo said.

Restaurateur Woodrow Washington represents Northport's District 2, where the court was installed, on the city council.

"I surely want to say thank you to Blue Cross Blue Shield for providing us with this," Washington said, "And thanks to everybody in the community for sticking with us and understanding that change is tough but change is fun, so thank you to everybody."

The equipment may seem complicated at first glance, but the scannable QR code painted on a wall of the court shows how to use each station. Fortunately for the crowd there Thursday morning, volunteers were around to show off how things work.

Andy Weigel from Move Performance Training in Northport led three of his trainees through circuits on the court.

They moved from station to station, showing beginner, intermediate and advanced workouts at each, all designed to incorporate and develop different parts of the body.

They were great sports at the already-warm 10 o'clock ribbon cutting.

The event also featured a contest of strength pitting uniformed mascots from Tuscaloosa County High School, the Northport Police Department and Northport Fire Rescue against one another.

The new fitness court is open now off 43rd Avenue in Northport at the trailhead of their Levee walking trail and is one of the first completed features of their Northport Shore development.

For more from that side of the Black Warrior River as developments continue, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.