Lake Stevens Park to officially dedicate a new Fitness Zone ® area on Saturday, March 12 at 11 a.m.
March 07, 2016
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Lake Stevens Park to officially dedicate a new Fitness Zone ® area on Saturday, March 12 at 11 a.m.
The “fee free” outdoor gym is part of Miami-Dade Parks’ ongoing “healthy-living” initiative to help residents play their way to fitness; delivering fitness outside the box.
MIAMI (March 07, 2016) —
The Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department in its advancing “healthy living” initiative to create fun, accessible and affordable recreation opportunities for residents, presents the new Fitness Zone ® outdoor gym at Lake Stevens Park, 5350 NW 183 St, Miami. The new development is the result of the Parks Department’s ongoing collaboration with The Trust for Public Land (TPL) Fitness Zone ® Program. With obesity, the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. and one in four Floridians classified as obese, the “fee free” outdoor gyms are ADA-accessible and are designed to help adults and teens of all abilities to be active and break the obesity cycle. The exercise stations feature easy-to-use gym equipment for cardio and strength training and accommodate wheelchair workouts.
The dedication for the new Fitness Zone ® area at Lake Stevens Park will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2016. The day’s activities will include a ribbon-cutting with representatives from Miami-Dade Parks, the Office of Miami-Dade County District 1 Commissioner Barbara Jordan and The Trust for Public Land Fitness Zone ® Program; followed by demonstrations on how to use the gym equipment, given by Miami-Dade Parks Health & Wellness staff. The demonstrations will show residents how easy it is to include a fitness regimen in their daily routine.
“I am pleased to see this new outdoor gym at Lake Stevens Park. Thanks to the Parks Department and their long-time collaboration with the Trust for Public Land Fitness Zone ® Program, Miami-Dade residents are enjoying more great amenities to help them live healthier and happier lives,” said Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez.
“The new Fitness Zone ® area is certainly a welcome addition to Lake Stevens Park and the surrounding community,” said Commissioner Jordan. “I look forward to seeing neighbors enjoying the free workouts on this state-of-the-art gym equipment and I encourage them to make it a regular part of their own daily exercise plan.”
“Research shows that parks—and The Trust for Public Land's Fitness Zone ® areas in particular—directly improve our health and wellness. Installing free outdoor fitness equipment in neighborhoods where gym memberships are too pricey to be practical empowers communities in the fight against obesity,” said Brenda McClymonds, The Trust for Public Land’s senior program director.
“Miami-Dade Parks provides an exhilarating assortment of recreation activities year-round at its county-wide parks, pools, beaches, marinas, golf courses, tennis facilities, skate parks, bike trails, and more. Fitness Zones ® areas and other outdoor exercise spaces provide more great ways for people to get fit in beautiful natural surroundings,” said Miami-Dade Parks Director Jack Kardys.
The new ADA-accessible Fitness Zone ® area consists of 14 pieces of exercise equipment anchored on a concrete pad. Nearby benches provide a place to rest after exercise. The equipment uses the body’s weight for resistance, so there are no weights to drop or lose. Each piece of equipment comes with an illustrated instructional sticker that explains in detail how to use it.
Featured are several two-person exercise stations, such as the “Push Up”, “Chin Up”, “Leg Press”, “Chest Press”, “Lateral Pull Down”, “Vertical Press”, and “Elliptical Trainer”. There is also a “Leg Extension”, a “Balance Board”, a “Captain’s Chair”; and hand, recumbent and upright cycles.
The project was completed by Miami-Dade Parks Design and Build Team, working with construction contractor DW Recreational Services.
The cost to build the new Fitness Zone ® was $100,000. Funds were provided by Impact Fees and the Trust for Public Land (TPL), with a grant from the Health Foundation of South Florida.
Miami-Dade Parks has installed 21 “fee free” outdoor gyms at its parks since July 2012. They will officially dedicate another Fitness Zone® area at Cherry Grove Park on March 19 at 11 a.m. Similar fitness courts are also planned for Tree Island Park, Eden Lakes Park, Lago Mar Park, and Wild Lime Park.
The 12-acre Lake Stevens Park also has bike trails, a children’s playground and a picnic shelter. For directions to the park visit the web page and call 305-621-2461.
Miami-Dade Parks is a world-class parks system supported by the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade and focused on Placemaking, Health and Fitness, and Conservation and Stewardship.
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To request materials in accessible format, sign language interpreters, and/or any accommodation to participate in any County-sponsored program or meeting, please call Lucy Binhack, 305-755-7848 or email, binhack@miamidade.gov, five days in advance to initiate your request. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).
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Miami, FL 33128
Rosa Oses, -Prealoni
Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County
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Phone: (786) 336-1276
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MIAMI, FL 33126
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