National Fitness Campaign unveils planned Fitness Court at Jerseyville’s Lions Club Park

The pandemic prompted NFC to set a goal of partnering with 10,000 communities around the world by 2030. Jerseyville community leaders were already seeking to improve the local quality of life through investment in parks and public spaces. Jerseyville City Councilman Kevin Stork learned of the NFC opportunity and began the push to bring the Fitness Court to town.

“We’re trying to transform Lions Club Park,” said Stork. “In coming out of COVID, we’re also trying to find ways to engage the community in outdoor activities as a means to further that transformation while promoting public wellness.”

Stork and Zach Crawford researched NFC and learned that only a handful of Illinois communities had a Fitness Court. They saw the facility as a way to help improve community wellness in Jerseyville.

Last year Jerseyville was one of several dozen recipients awarded a $25,000 grant from the NFC and the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association for a Fitness Court. Additional funding for the project came through a public-private partnership of city funds and local private sponsors who will be recognized on the primary wall of the fitness facility. Private fundraising was completed through the efforts of Tyler Hermens, Jerseyville Parks and Recreation Director, with JCH Healthcare serving as the primary corporate donor.

Long-term plans for the site include a multiple-phase project to transform both the Lions Club Park and the adjoining Wittman Park into a complex supporting not only health and wellness, as well as a location for arts and entertainment. The city’s long-term Capital Improvement Plan includes increased recreational opportunities as a key priority.

In addition to the NFC outdoor fitness court, the project includes new pickleball courts, the rehab of basketball courts, sand volleyball,
an ADA-compliant playset, new restroom facilities, a splash pad, an outdoor amphitheater with hillside seating and improvements to the Feyerabend Building.

“I think this is a great investment for the health and wellness of our community,” Crawford said. “We remain committed to being proactive and progressive in making quality of life improvements with both our parks and city-wide, and this project is a great launching point for our long-term plans.”

Plans are being finalized for an opening day celebration in May where people will be able to try the Fitness Court and learn about upcoming community wellness programming.