Priority Health expands access to wellness for Lansing community with second Priority Health Fitness Court®

(LANSING, Mich. – Aug. 2, 2024) The City of Lansing; 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 Washington Park. 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.

A celebration took place July 31 and in attendance were City of Lansing officials including Mayor Andy Schor, Park Director Brett Kaschinske, Councilwoman Tamara Carter, Tirstan Walters, Lansing Park board member, and more. The Priority Health Fitness Court at Washington Park becomes the second for the city, with the first opening at Maguire Park in October 2021.

“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,” said Rick Abbott, senior vice president of Employer Solutions at Priority Health. “Advancing opportunities for better health is truly not possible without public-private partnerships like this one, and most importantly, the neighbors who have embraced the use of the courts.”

Nearly 231,000 people used a Priority Health Fitness Court in 2023, burning a collective of more than 57.5 million calories.

The new Fitness Court at Washington 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.

“National Fitness Campaign is proud to work with the City of Lansing once again as they expand their Fitness Court network as a leading partner in Michigan, championing health and wellness for their residents,” said Mitch Menaged, founder of National Fitness Campaign. “The addition of their second Fitness Court, along with digital wellness programming, demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the health and well-being within the community.”

The City of Lansing is home to the 21st Priority Health Fitness Court in the statewide network. Priority Health and NFC will open at least 30 additional fitness courts by mid-2027. 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.

“Anybody can come whether they live on the north side or south side—no matter where they live,” said Mayor Andy Schor. “Even folks from outside the city can come and utilize the equipment. That’s what this is about; it’s about accessibility. I’ve had the opportunity to wander around our city and see people using these. We know they get used and we're happy we can provide this resource.”

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.