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BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF ALABAMA PROUD TO SUPPORT THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE WITH INNOVATIVE FITNESS COURT FOR NEW LEGACY PARK

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is honored to partner with the City of Huntsville by providing an innovative fitness court for the residents and the community at the new Legacy Park.

HUNTSVILLE, AL – The City of Huntsville will open Legacy Park with a ribbon-cutting and community celebration on Wednesday, June 28 at 3 p.m. The $4.6 million park, located near 6000 Cecil Fain Drive, completes the reimagining of the former J.O. Johnson High School which closed in 2016. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is honored to partner with the City of Huntsville by providing an innovative fitness court for the residents and the community at the new Legacy Park.

“From the start, our goal has been to honor the legacy of the J.O. Johnson Jaguars, while creating a neighborhood where people want to live, play, and raise their families,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “Legacy Park, in conjunction with Johnson Legacy Center (JLC), achieves that. It is a crowning jewel for Northwest Huntsville.”

Lasting Legacy

The park is adjacent to JLC, a membership-based City recreation center, that opened in 2020. Since then, private developers have built Jaguar Hills. The subdivision of single-family homes offers amenities and price points to match any residential development in the City. 

District 1 Council Member Devyn Keith has been a staunch supporter of both JLC and Legacy Park. “Success breeds success,” he said. “Being able to walk to a state-of-the-art fitness center and now this beautiful park, only enhances the desirability of the area. We are proud to see so many people choosing to call Northwest Huntsville home.”

A Park with Purpose

Designed by Bostick Landscape Architects, Legacy Park is more than an urban green space.  There are two pavilions, including an entertainment pavilion with terraced seating. A large, modern playground offers children hours of active fun. Other amenities include a plaza, walking trails, and 132-space parking lot.

“Legacy Park was designed with the community in mind. We can see multiple generations using this space for years to come,” said Parks and Recreation Director James Gossett. “Whether it’s an afternoon at the playground, an after-dinner walk, or a get-together with family and friends, Legacy Park is a place where memories will be made.”

From Fun to Fitness

Legacy Park is also home to the City’s second National Fitness Campaign (NFC) Fitness Court® public art installation. The first opened at John Hunt Park last year. The Legacy Park Fitness Court was developed in partnership with the City of Huntsville, Arts Huntsville, NFC, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama.

“We continue to focus on providing Alabamians access to the resources they need so they can live the healthiest lives possible,” said Sophie Martin, director of corporate communications and community relations, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. “It is our hope that this dynamic platform will provide City of Huntsville residents and the community an innovative avenue to get healthier.” 

The Fitness Court features artwork by Jamal FRESKO Turner, a Huntsville illustrator with more than a decade of graphic art experience.  The vibrant energy of Turner’s work is a fitting backdrop to the circuit training system, which provides a full body workout in less than seven minutes. “We are proud to continue our mission of getting people moving outdoors, supporting public art and helping communities combat the fiscal and humanitarian costs of inactivity,” said Mitch Menaged, founder of NFC.

Celebrating the Future

With so much to celebrate, the public is invited to join the festivities. Immediately following the ribbon-cutting, Legacy Park will host its first event, a community celebration. There will be free ice cream, T-shirts, music, a performance by the Johnson High Alumni Jazz Band, a Fitness Court demonstration and more. Be part of the excitement as the legacy continues.

For more information, contact Kelly Schrimsher, Director of Communication, City of Huntsville, AL, 256-427-5006, kelly.schrimsher@huntsvilleal.gov.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama has insured Alabamians for over 87 years. Blue Cross offers coverage plans to corporations, individuals and the senior market. For more information about Blue Cross, visit AlabamaBlue.com. Connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more up-to-date information.  

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and

Blue Shield Association.

About NFC

Founded in San Francisco in 1979, National Fitness Campaign (NFC) is a wellness consulting firm that provides programs and services to cities, schools and sponsors to build healthy communities. NFC's unique program delivers consulting services and an integrated wellness initiative to communities, centered on the world’s best outdoor gym: The Fitness Court . The Campaign is now planning its 500th Healthy Community, uniting the country’s largest public-private partnership in support of wellness towards the goal of building a Fitness Court within a 10-minute bike ride of every American. NFC’s mission is to build healthy communities. Learn more about NFC at Nationalfitnesscampaign.com and follow us on social media @NatFitCampaign & #Fitnesscourt.

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