Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, has donated $70,000 to the Township of Green Brook to sponsor the National Fitness Campaign’s Fitness Court™ in the township’s new $2.5 million Arthur Lewis Park. The Fitness Court is a free outdoor gym that features exercise equipment for circuit training and digital fitness challenges.
“We are committed to promoting the health of our communities and are proud to sponsor this new Fitness Court to make it easier for people to exercise and lead a healthy, active lifestyle,” said Tony Cava, president and chief executive officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset.
The National Fitness Campaign opened its first outdoor gym in San Francisco in 1979 and the concept has since spread to more than 4,000 communities and schools nationwide.
In addition to sponsoring the Fitness Court, the hospital plans to hold exercise classes and healthy food demonstrations at Arthur Lewis Park throughout the year.
Located on the site of the former Green Brook Swim Club, the park will also feature swings and play structures, a large spray park, renovated basketball and handball courts, a new sand volleyball court and pavilion. It is expected to open in late summer.
“We have had a great partnership with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset over the past few years through their Healthier Somerset coalition, promoting smoke-free parks and farmers’ markets and creating opportunities for safe walking and biking as part of the Complete Streets Program. We are grateful for their continued support of our community through their Fitness Court sponsorship,” said Patrick Boccio, mayor of Green Brook.
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset provides nearly $1 million in free community services and education annually, including more than 600 health education events and 175 health screenings. Other community benefit activities offered by the hospital include free annual cardiac athletic screenings for young athletes in the community, food donations, with 140 turkeys provided this year to area food pantries for Thanksgiving, and a number of charitable “drives” including an employee Toy Drive that culminates in an annual holiday party attended by nearly 125 children in the community, a diaper drive, warm blanket drive and back-to-school drive.
For more information about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, visit www.rwjbh.org/somerset.
