The Dearborn Heights community invests in health and wellness with Priority Health Fitness Court®
(DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – November 4, 2024) The City of Dearborn Heights; Priority Health, a nationally recognized nonprofit health plan; and the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) are pleased to announce the opening of an outdoor Priority Health Fitness Court® at Daly Park, 25000 Lehigh Street. This launch was made possible thanks to the statewide partnership between Priority Health and NFC to expand free access to high-quality workouts and create access to exercise for communities.
“At Priority Health, we believe all people have the right to a healthy life and that’s why we are committed to investing in the community to help reduce barriers to free, accessible fitness and improve wellness for the neighbors of Daly Park,” said Molly McCoy, senior director of employer solutions at Priority Health. “Changing the built environment for better health is only possible through public, private partnerships like this one and most importantly, the neighbors who have embraced the use of the courts.”
With 7,320 active users in 2023, it's estimated that over 41.2 million calories and 13,071 pounds are burned in one year on the Priority Health Fitness Court network.
Mayor Bill Bazzi joined the ribbon cutting ceremony on October 28 and shared, “We welcome our first Priority Health Fitness Court to Dearborn Heights and are excited to offer this new opportunity to our residents that will benefit their health and wellness.”
The new Fitness Court in Daly 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 in mind, the Fitness Court is adaptable for all fitness levels. They can also be used in group or solo settings with local volunteer ambassadors leading classes for groups. New and solo 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.
Kim Sower, director of Parks & Recreation for Dearborn Heights, said, “This is a great addition to our Dearborn Heights Parks & Recreation Program; the benefits of this Fitness Court are endless and will enrich our resident’s well-being.”
The City of Dearborn Heights is home to the 24th Priority Health Fitness Court. Priority Health’s mission in this partnership is to increase access to free, high-quality exercise for all people. NFC developed the trademarked seven-station system in 2012 to inspire municipalities to transform public spaces into community fitness hubs. NFC's award-winning initiative is planning its 500th healthy community, including cities in Michigan such as Detroit, Grand Rapids, Madison Heights, Highland Park, Lansing, Big Rapids, Traverse City and Saginaw.
“National Fitness Campaign is proud to welcome the City of Dearborn Heights to the campaign as a leader in Michigan, championing health and wellness for their residents” said Mitch Menaged, founder of National Fitness Campaign. “The addition of the Fitness Court, along with digital wellness programming, demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the health and wellbeing within the community.”
About Priority Health:
With over 30 years in business, Priority Health is the second largest health plan in Michigan, offering an extensive portfolio of health benefits options for employer groups and individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid plans. Serving more than 1.3 million members each year and offering a broad network of primary care physicians in Michigan, Priority Health continues to be recognized as a leader for quality, customer service, transparency and product innovation. Learn more about affordable, quality health coverage options from Priority Health.