A Short Stretch to Better Health
To promote a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, NYCHA partnered with the Trust for Public Land to build an outdoor fitness area at Carver Houses in East Harlem. The state-of-the-art facility, which opened in January, serves not only the residents of Carver Houses but also the thousands more who live within a 10-minute walk of the site. The project – the first of its kind at NYCHA – was supported by the Mt. Sinai Health System and other partners.
“This innovative resource offers adult Carver Houses residents of all ages immediate access to fitness activity that will promote physical and mental health,” said Andrea Mata, NYCHA’s Director of Health Initiatives. “It has been an honor working with partners and the wonderful Carver Houses Resident Association to make this dream a reality. We hope there will be many more.”
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to engage in physical fitness no matter where they live,” said Carter Strickland, New York State Director for the Trust for Public Land. “We wanted to help by providing East Harlem residents access to free exercise equipment right outside their front door.”
Created through a participatory design process by NYCHA residents over the past two years, the facility includes a stationary fitness bike, a push-up and leg-lift station, triple bars for upper body training (accessible for those with mobility impairments), and other equipment that allows stretching, strength training, and cardiovascular fitness.
The Trust for Public Land has contributed similar outdoor exercise areas in Miami and Los Angeles. This is its first one in New York City, where the organization has spearheaded the construction of many school playgrounds. The Fitness Zone will be maintained by the equipment manufacturer, KOMPAN, the costs of which were also donated by The Trust. NYCHA and the Carver Houses Resident Association will partner with a local fitness leadership organization to provide programming for residents at the site.
Shaun Commodore, President of the Carver Houses Resident Association, appreciates how the facility will improve body and mind. “Ours is a time when we are taking seriously both the mental and physical health of our communities,” he said. “The Adult Fitness Zone will promote good health among our residents and encourage a healthier approach to life. It’s a blessing for our seniors, teens, and adults of all ages, and offers a place for coming together to the benefit of everyone.”
