AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins recently opened the first of many AARP-branded fitness parks that the organization will donate to local communities to commemorate AARP\u2019s 60th anniversary.
\nOver the next three years, AARP intends to work with national nonprofit FitLotTM to build parks in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The parks feature stationary equipment that can be adapted to meet a wide range of fitness levels and abilities.
\nThe first park opened in Booker Creek Park in St. Petersburg, Fla.
\nAARP\u2019s second fitness park is scheduled to open later this year in Ohio, and more than a dozen parks are planned for 2019 in locations across the country.
\nWith an open floor plan and shaded by a canopy, the fitness parks will all look alike and be situated in areas where they can add the most value, in areas with high foot traffic that are not already served by something similar, officials said.
\nThe parks feature stationary equipment such as steppers, climbers and chin-up bars that can be adapted to meet a range of fitness levels and abilities. Additionally, hooks throughout that can be used with resistance bands add the function of free weights.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled that this fitness park gives the people of St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay, including AARP members, a new space to play and stay healthy. We have a strong commitment to local communities and hope that these parks will be a boon for each state and territory that we serve,\u201d said Jenkins. \u201cHealth and wellness have been a priority for AARP since our founding. We\u2019re excited to honor AARP\u2019s 60 years of service by offering a new way to stay healthy to local communities.\u201d
\nAARP has a long history in the St. Petersburg area; founder Ethel Percy Andrus opened one of four AARP hospitality houses in the city, offering classes and activities for seniors. It was also the location of AARP\u2019s first mail-order pharmacy, which helped members combat high prescription drug prices.
\n\u201cI am excited and honored to have the first AARP-branded fitness park in the United States. St. Petersburg is leading the way to ensure our citizens have healthy options to live, work and play, and I appreciate AARP recognizing our efforts,\u201d said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman
\nAARP is the nation\u2019s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment.
\nAARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world\u2019s largest circulation publications, To learn more, visit www.aarp.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins recently opened the first of many AARP-branded fitness parks that the organization will donate to local communities to commemorate AARP\u2019s 60th anniversary. Over the next three years, AARP intends to work with national nonprofit FitLotTM to build parks in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"\r\n