MVP Health Care makes fitness free for all in the Capital Region – troyrecord

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — MVP Health Care, SUNY Schenectady, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany County, the Cities of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, and National Fitness Campaign (NFC) recently announced a partnership to bring nine outdoor Fitness Courts® to the Capital Region.

The MVP Health Care Fitness Courts will provide the region with equitable access to free, high-quality workouts using state-of-the-art equipment.

The MVP Health Care Fitness Courts are a result of a partnership launched last Fall between MVP Health Care and NFC activates public spaces and encourages a healthy lifestyle. A Fitness Court is a free, open-air wellness center that allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout. Created with adults of all ages and abilities in mind, a Fitness Court workout allows users of all fitness levels to move at their own pace.

Users can 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.

“The launch of the MVP Health Care Fitness Courts throughout the Capital Region is a monumental step toward providing access to resources that can change the trajectory of someone’s health and wellness journey,” said MVP Health Care’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Del Vecchio. “As a leading health care services company, investing in our local communities and offering innovative options like the Fitness Court, reinforces our commitment to giving back to the people we serve.

“We are proud to partner with NFC, the cities of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, Albany County, SUNY Schenectady, and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to bring this unique opportunity to the places we call home. We look forward to seeing you on the Fitness Courts.”

The MVP Health Care Fitness Courts will be built in the following locations:

• SUNY Schenectady: Mohawk-Hudson Bike Trail Access Point on the college campus, 78 Washington Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12305

• Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: 106 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208 near the Gozzo Student Center

• Albany County: Albany County Rail Trail, Location TBD

• City of Albany*: S. Ferry Street Section of the South End Connector

• City of Schenectady: Orchard Park, Between 3rd Ave & Orchard St, Schenectady, NY 12303

• City of Troy (4 Fitness Courts): 112th Street Park, 112th St, Troy, NY 12182; Prospect Park, 65 Prospect Park Rd, Troy, NY 12180;  Beman Park, 15th St, Troy, NY 12180;  Knickerbocker Park, 103rd St & 8th Ave, Troy, NY 12182

“The new Fitness Court on our campus is a real testament to the commitment of the College to offer resources for our students, faculty, staff, and community members to lead healthy lifestyles,” said Dr. Steady Moono, President of SUNY Schenectady. “Private funding provided by the College’s Foundation made it possible to meet New York State’s matching requirements. We are dedicated to ensuring access for everyone to higher education, and health and wellness play an important role in a student’s ability to focus on their studies. We join with MVP Health Care and the National Fitness Campaign in our excitement as the new home to a MVP Health Care Fitness Court that will be available to all members of our community.”

“Improving the health of our society is central to the mission of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, so we are pleased to partner with MVP Health Care and the National Fitness Campaign to bring an outdoor Fitness Court to our campus,” said Dr. Greg Dewey, President of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “We are grateful to MVP Health Care for this opportunity to support our ongoing efforts to improve the health and wellness of our students, and of everyone in the ACPHS community.”

“Improving health and wellness and promoting healthy lifestyles have always been top priorities of mine, because health is a key component of quality of life. These Fitness Courts offer a unique opportunity to exercise while enjoying the outdoors and you don’t have to worry about membership fees,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. “I want to thank MVP Health Care and the National Fitness Campaign for their collaboration with Capital Region municipalities and higher education institutions on this initiative that will have a real impact on the lives of countless residents.”

“My administration is focused on meeting the needs of the community and adding more outdoor recreational opportunities, and the Fitness Court is another example of that commitment,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “Partnering with MVP Health Care and the National Fitness Campaign on this project will further the goal of providing recreational access as well as promote health and wellness among our residents. These Fitness Courts are free to use, publicly accessible and state-of-the-art facilities that support services and programming from the National Fitness Campaign, and the South End Connector is an ideal location for the Fitness Court in the City of Albany. Thank you to MVP Health Care and National Fitness Campaign for this opportunity.”

“Last year we were proud to break ground on the redevelopment of Orchard Park in the Mont Pleasant neighborhood – adding nearly an acre of expanded green space with vastly improved accessibility and visibility,” said City of Schenectady Mayor, Gary McCarthy. “The recently renovated park has become a valuable neighborhood resource with new recreation opportunities for individuals and families to enjoy. We are excited to partner with MVP Health Care to install an NFC Fitness Court in our community that will complement the redevelopment of Orchard Park and provide easy and equitable access to health and wellness opportunities for local neighborhood residents.”

“We saw a dramatic increase in the use of our outdoors spaces, parks, and other amenities during the pandemic,” said City of Troy Mayor, Patrick Madden. “Last year, the city released a new $22.5 million Citywide Park Master plan, and this partnership with MVP Health Care will complement those efforts by bringing four Fitness Courts into our neighborhood parks.”

“It is a real pleasure to invite the Capital Region from the great state of New York to join our National Fitness Campaign,” said Mitch Menaged, Founder of NFC. “As we join our state sponsor MVP Health Care in the first phase of Fitness Court openings, we’re laying the groundwork for building a wellness culture across the state. Congratulations to all involved in this powerful Capital Region program!”

The Fitness Courts are expected to be built and open to the public later this summer.

For more information about the MVP Health Care Fitness Courts visit, https://nationalfitnesscampaign.com/newyork.

*The MVP Health Care Fitness Court at the South End Connector in the City of Albany has been conditionally awarded and is pending final funding.