Belhaven Heights Park Unveils Keith Haring Outdoor Fitness Court®

On September 26, 2024, the National Fitness Campaign (NFC), Greater Belhaven Foundation, Jackson Heart Foundation, Community Foundation for Mississippi and the City of Jackson unveiled that Belhaven Heights Park of the historic Greater Belhaven Neighborhood had been selected as one of only ten sites nationwide to curate a one-of-a-kind Keith Haring outdoor Fitness Court® as part of the 2024 National Fitness Campaign.

NFC is an award-winning initiative that welcomed its 500th healthy community in 2023. It is now funded to deliver vital outdoor wellness programs to 1,000 healthy communities by 2025 to help get people moving outdoors and fight the rising fiscal and humanitarian costs of physical inactivity. The Keith Haring Fitness Court initiative was born in 2020 as part of NFC's Arts and Culture Series, uniting the world-renowned art of Keith Haring, one of the most influential modern artists in American history, with the world's best outdoor gym in the Fitness Court.

The partnership was made possible by Artestar, a global licensing agency and creative consultancy representing high-profile artists, photographers, designers and creatives. The new Keith Haring Fitness Court at Belhaven Heights Park is the world's best outdoor gym and allows users to leverage their body weight to get a complete workout using seven stations in just seven minutes. The workouts, created with people aged 14 and over and with all abilities in mind, are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace. Users also may download the free Fitness Court App, which acts as a coach-in-your-pocket and transforms the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience.

"The Keith Haring Fitness Court is a dynamic new asset in the City's Park and Recreation system that will benefit our citizens," said Council President Virgi Lindsay of Ward 7. "We are grateful to the Greater Belhaven Foundation, Community Foundation for Mississippi and Jackson Heart Foundation for their collective wisdom and foresight in anchoring this creative outdoor gym next to the new Museum Trail."
”Today marks another milestone for Jackson,” said Dr. Rickey Thigpen, President and CEO of Visit Jackson. “The Keith Haring Fitness Court is another asset that will enhance the quality-of-life assets for locals and visitors. The ability for art, health, and fitness to live in the same space in Jackson further defines who The City With Soul is and the amenities our destination has to offer. Visit Jackson is honored to have joined the other community stakeholders that made today possible.”

"We are excited to have the City of Jackson join us in the journey to improve health and wellness as we work to make a powerful and long-lasting impact on longevity and happiness by building healthy communities across America," said Mitch Menaged, founder of National Fitness Campaign. "The addition of the Keith Haring Fitness Court, along with digital wellness programming, demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the health and wellbeing within the community."