HUNTSVILLE, AL – Mayor Tommy Battle will join two others in headlining a ribbon-cutting ceremony to be held for Huntsville’s first outdoor fitness court.

The City of Huntsville and Arts Huntsville will officially open the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) Fitness Court® public art installation at John Hunt Park with the ceremony today at 2 p.m.

The fitness court is aimed at providing a short but full workout while patrons enjoy artwork.

Huntsville Parks and Recreation Director James Gossett and Arts Huntsville Executive Director Allison Dillon-Jauken will join Battle to highlight the installation featuring artwork of world-renowned artist Keith Haring.

“It’s fantastic to see artwork incorporated into our public projects across the city,’’ Battle said in a press release. “It’s even more meaningful to see artistry wrapped into wellness, and we thank our partners at Arts Huntsville for leading this effort.”

For Dillon-Jauken, the intersection of public art and public fitness is an exciting new venture for Huntsville’s public art program and city parks.

“With the Keith Haring Fitness Court at John Hunt Park, visitors will interact with artwork they may not otherwise see outside of a museum. In the months ahead, they’ll be able to experience other artwork at fitness courts in city parks across our community,” Dillon-Jauken said.

Following the ribbon cutting, a Parks and Recreation fitness trainer will lead community members in demonstrating how the innovative outdoor circuit training center provides a full-body workout in just seven minutes.

“The ability to enjoy a free workout, while surrounded by the vibrant work of local and international artists, is a unique experience,” Gossett said. “We’re excited about this addition to John Hunt Park and look forward to the upcoming installations at Legacy Park, Apollo Park and California Street Park.”

The NFC was established in 1979 with the goal of providing the free outdoor Fitness Court® to be within a 10-minute bike ride of every American.

According to the NFC, the Fitness Court® is accessible and designed for people of all abilities. Users can rotate through seven zones, leveraging their bodyweight at different angles and levels of resistance to improve their performance over time. The court is suitable for those ages 14 and up.

The Huntsville locations of the NFC Fitness Court® are made possible through a partnership with the City of Huntsville and Arts Huntsville. To learn more about how the non-profit is bringing art into public spaces, visit artshuntsville.org.