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Council accepts $35,000 National Fitness Campaign grant to build outdoor fitness court in Arts District
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Summary
The Worcester City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2026-27 to accept a $35,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign, matched by $200,000 in city funds for a $235,000 project to install a fitness court and studio at the former Wayne County Health Department site; construction could be completed by September if demolition proceeds promptly.
The Worcester City Council on April 20 voted to accept a $35,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign and commit a $200,000 city match toward a $235,000 outdoor fitness court and studio in the Arts District.
Council member Miss Wharton introduced Resolution 2026-27, saying the grant supports a public fitness court and studio on the footprint of the former Wayne County Health Department building and complements streetscape work and the Wayne Center for the Arts development. "This resolution authorizes the city to accept a $35,000 grant through the National Fitness Campaign's 2026 Healthy Cities Campaign to support the installation of a public fitness court and studio," Miss Wharton said.
Phil Turski, who led the project presentation, described a 36-by-72-foot court and studio that will sit on a concrete pad; modular exercise equipment would be assembled on top and could be removed if necessary. He said the county will demolish the existing building using County Land Bank funds, the city will construct the court and then lease the site from the county similar to the Kinney Fields arrangement, and the National Fitness Campaign required council acceptance by April 22 to secure the award. "If the building was down today, it would be in by September," Turski said when asked about the timeline.
Council members pressed for protections and clarity about ownership and long-term use. A county attorney present said lease agreements have protections, notice and time frames to exit, and staff noted the county has been a cooperative partner on similar projects. Turski and Recreation staff also said programming will be developed to ensure regular public use of the facility.
Miss Wharton moved to place the resolution on third and final reading and to adopt it this evening to meet the grant deadline; the motion was seconded and the clerk called the roll. The council recorded affirmative roll-call votes and adopted Resolution 2026-27.
Under the approved plan the National Fitness Campaign provides $35,000; the city will supply a $200,000 match that was already budgeted as part of prior Arts District streetscape approvals, producing an expected project total of $235,000. The final design, art components and arrangements for adjacent flexible uses such as a food-truck area or parking will be refined with county partners during the planning phase.
Next steps for the project include finalizing design, working with the county on parking and lease terms, selecting any public art, and scheduling demolition so construction can proceed. Staff said they would return with implementation details as planning advances.
