By the end of this summer, Willow Springs residents won’t have any excuses for not being in better shape physically.
That’s because the village board – at its most recent meeting – approved spending $115,000 to install an outdoor fitness court at Lions Park.
The fitness court is manufactured by National Fitness Campaign based in San Francisco, and could be installed as soon as June, Village Administrator Ryan Grace said on Feb. 26.
Grace gave a presentation to the board last fall on the topic.
“There are multiple workout stations. It’s interactive. You can download an app on your phone. Scan a QR code and it will walk you through your workout. You can set your fitness goals,” Grace said.
To defray the cost, Willow Springs received a $60,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Grace said.
Grace said if residents want to get an idea of what to expect, they can visit a workout area at Tony and Florence Borse Memorial Community Park, 208 Midway Drive, Willowbrook.
“A lot of communities are putting workout centers in parks. This will be a 45-foot-by-45-foot area with multiple stations laid out so you’ll have some room. It’s going to be pretty cool,” Grace said.
Grace credited Trustee Rick Mika with the idea, saying, “It’s his baby.”
“Trustee Mika has been looking for good exercise equipment for years. We want to make sure we found something that’s unique and really hit the spot,” Grace said.
Mika, who chairs the board’s Municipal Buildings and Grounds Committee, said he enjoys working out and thinks residents will benefit greatly.
“It’s there to keep you agile and strong,” he said.
Mika visited parks in Countryside and Burr Ridge to get ideas from their outdoor workout areas.
“I just took pictures of stuff, talked with Ryan about it and we ended up getting a grant for $60,000. So, it’s a go,” Mika said.
Mayor Melissa Neddermeyer said after the concept first came to the village’s attention in September, positive input from staff and residents convinced village officials to move forward.
On March 2, Public Works Director Keith Grantland said he’s been busy talking with companies for the concrete work.
According to www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com, in the past six years, 14 million people have enjoyed access to the outdoor workouts nationwide and an estimated 7.9 billion calories have been burned.