CLEVELAND — Cleveland Public Schools hosted a June 4 grand opening and ribbon cutting of a new Fitness Court at the CimTel Trail, located at the corner of Swan and Crestview.
“This is more than just a new addition to campus—it’s a celebration of community, health, and what happens when local people step up in a national way,” Superintendent Sol Bayouth said. “ Through a partnership with the National Fitness Campaign and Blue CrossBlueShieldofOklahoma,Cleveland is joining a growing movement to make free, high-quality fitness accessible to everyone.
“As a company, we are committed to helping make Oklahoma a healthier state,” said BCBSOK Chief Medical Officer Dr. Todd Hoffman. “About half of all U.S. adults are not getting enough physical activity in their daily lives. We know an active lifestyle not only supports physical health, but it also helps improve mental health and fosters opportunities for social connections. By partnering with the National Fitness Campaign to provide free, outdoor gyms we can support the health of our communities and their families where they live, work and play.”
NFC Founder Mitch Menaged concurred.
“We are excited to have Cleveland schools join us in the journey to improve health and wellness as we work to make a powerful and long-lasting impact on health outcomes and happiness by building healthy communities across America,’’ he said. “The addition of the outdoor Fitness Court, along with digital wellness programming, demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the health and wellbeing within the Cleveland community.”
This Fitness Court was developed by Cleveland schools, BCBSOK and NFC to expand free access to high-quality workouts and create equitable access to exercise for communities across the region. The Fitness Court is the world’s best outdoor gym that lets participants use their body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations.
Created for people at least 14 years old of all abilities, the Fitness Court workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace.
Users also may download the free Fitness Court appexternal link, a coach-in-your-pocket that expands the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience.
Cleveland schools and the city of Cleveland are among the first ten campaign partners building a network of Fitness Courts statewide with help from BCBSOK.
Bayouth said this would not have been possible without the local community.
“The City of Cleveland, American Heritage Bank, Blue Sky Bank, Cimarron Telecommunications, and Cleveland Schools came together to bring this opportunity directly to our citizens. This isn’t just a piece of equipment—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when a town invests in itself,” Bayouth said.
Bayouth said whether you’re just getting started or looking for a new challenge, this space was built for you.
“At Cleveland Public Schools, we believe schools should serve as the heart of the community. This project is just that, a way to give back to the people who have continuously supported our students, our staff, and our vision,” he said.
He said this project proves something powerful: you don’t have to be in a major city to be part of something national.
“Cleveland is now one of the early communities in Oklahoma helping lead this effort—setting the tone for what’s possible when local leadership, strong partnerships, and community pride come together,” he said. “Every sponsor, every partner, and every resident plays a role in that success.”
Bayouth said the school district is grateful to the Cleveland community for choosing to pour into their campus with the passing of the Tiger Vision 2025 bond issue.
“We've been wanting to do something that would give back to the greater Tiger Family Community and making improvements to CimTel Trail is our way of doing it....and we aren't done yet,” he said.