New outdoor workout equipment coming to Britland Park in Fall River

FALL RIVER — A new outdoor fitness area with equipment that’s free to use will officially open in Fall River Tuesday.

“It’s always important to add more free resources whenever we can when it comes to health and wellness,” said Olivia Peixoto, Special Projects and Media Coordinator for the mayor’s office.

The Fitness Court is in Britland Park at 73 Wordell St. It’s sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and the National Fitness Campaign, an organization aimed at building similar courts in parks across the country.

The Fitness Court includes seven areas with stationary equipment that can be used for strength and agility exercises like pull-ups and core workouts.

Signs at the court will offer instructions for using the equipment. Residents can also download an app to learn about the court.

Britland Park already includes a soccer field and a new pickleball court, one of several that have opened this summer in Fall River parks.

“It’s a prime location,” Peixoto said.

The Fitness Court features a mural designed by Abigail Collins, a Fall River artist who works in photography and mixed media.

“I wanted something vibrant, motivating, and unique that captured the essence of the court and appealed to everyone,” she said in a press release from the city announcing the new fitness court. “My goal was to create a mural that was inclusive, and showed that fitness is something that can be accomplished by anyone, regardless of ability level.”

The Fitness Court will officially open to the public on Aug. 8. Peixoto said everyone is welcome to use the equipment and, while fitness groups are allowed to meet there, no one is allowed to charge someone to participate in programming there or to make other users leave the court.

“I think it’ll be a good way to bring the community together in a place where they don’t have to pay to work out,” she said.

The public is also invited to the grand opening celebration on Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. where Fall River police and firefighters will square off in a Battle of the Badges fitness challenge. Local fitness ambassadors will also be demonstrating the seven exercise stations after the first responder challenge.