The City of Portage celebrates their new outdoor fitness court in Miami Park.
Steve Euvino Times Correspondent
PORTAGE -- The city's newest park offers the opportunity for modern outdoor fitness activity while paying tribute to the community's past.
Officials gathered Friday to cut the ceremonial ribbon for what will be known as Miami Park. Portage's 19th park is on leased township school land north of the school bus barns and Portage High School, at the corner of Airport and Lute roads.
With additional work remaining, the city Friday dedicated The Fitness Court at Miami Park. Part of the National Fitness Campaign, the court is a cushioned full-body circuit training center with seven movement zones, each offering numerous exercises utilizing different body parts.
A QR code on the structure can lead park users to different exercises, as can The Fitness Court app. In addition, the south side of the 32-by-73-foot court features a studio area for outdoor classes.
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Portage Parks Director Kelly Smith envisions yoga, Zumba, and other aerobic exercises and classes in the studio area.
The project cost $195,000, with $165,000 covered by the city's park impact fee and $30,000 from a National Fitness Campaign grant. Portage residential builders pay a park impact fee that can only go to new city parks.
The National Fitness Campaign works with municipalities, schools and sponsors nationwide to design and develop healthy communities. By 2030, the campaign's goal is to fund 5,000 free outdoor Fitness Courts within a 10-minute bike ride of every American.
Smith believes the Miami Park concept is the first of its kind in the area. Nationally, more than 500 municipalities and counties have joined the campaign.
"There are all types of exercises you can do here," Smith said, noting that instructions allow for easy, medium, and hard workouts.
The Fitness Court is designed to provide a full body workout in only seven minutes outdoors. The seven zones cover core, squat, push, lunge, pull, agility and bend.
"You can do the type of workout you're comfortable with," Smith noted.
Smith added that the park name was the idea of Mayor Austin Bonta, as members of the Miami tribe of Native Americans formerly resided in the Portage area. She also said the name is in keeping with the PHS sports team's nickname Indians.
The Miami, whose name is derived from a term meaning "downstream people," had occupied territory in north-central Indiana, southwestern Michigan, and western Ohio.
Megan Bonta, subbing for the mayor, her husband, called the structure a "unique part of Portage parks."
A teacher and owner of a local music studio, Bonta said the new park is "another way to keep our community healthy."
She added, "This is a great park for all ages in building a healthy routine. I like that there are different levels of exercise. From beginners to advanced, they can all come here."
Smith noted that among the other improvements coming are signage, walking paths and landscaping. In addition to the lease with the school system, the parks director cited the potential for use of the park by faculty and other school employees.
"This is something to give back to the community, and there's something for everyone," Smith said.
City Councilman Ferdinand Alvarez, D-at large, commented, "It's a beautiful and welcome addition to the park infrastructure. Any time people can find time to exercise, it's a good thing."
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