Join AARP Illinois For Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for AARP Sponsored Outdoor Fitness Park in Springfield

AARP is opening an exciting new outdoor fitness park at Lincoln Park in coordination with the Springfield Park District. If you live in the Springfield area, come join us for the celebration and ribbon-cutting!

The event will be Friday, September 20^th from 11am until 1pm at Lincoln Park.

The AARP sponsored outdoor fitness park at Lincoln Park is the seventh such park to open in the United States and the only one planned in Illinois. Lincoln Park is located at 1601 North 5^th Street in Springfield.

Over the next several years, AARP plans to sponsor a fitness park in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as part of its ongoing mission of helping people to take control of their health as they age and to commemorate the association’s 60^th anniversary.



“We couldn’t be more thrilled to open this outdoor fitness park in Springfield as the city hosts the Senior Olympics,” said AARP Director of Advocacy and Outreach Ryan Grunenfelder who will join Park District Board President Leslie Sgro and other officials to cut the ribbon.

“As Senior Olympics athletes understand well, keeping active is great way to stay healthy and connected. This is a space to play and enjoy, free to the public, including our members. It’s my sincere hope that this park will get good use and bring together Springfield in a new way for years to come.”

“The Springfield Park District is thrilled that this park provides a safe and healthy outdoor fitness area. It is another example of our ongoing commitment to provide affordable opportunities to promote health and wellbeing for the Springfield community. We are excited to showcase this outdoor fitness park in Lincoln Park and invite the community to join us,” said Leslie A. Sgro, President of the Springfield Park District Board of Trustees.

Join AARP’s Ryan Gruenenfelder and Park District President Sgro at the AARP opening ceremony. Special guest include: Sen. Steve McClure; Ryan Melchin, District Director for Representative Mike Murphy; Carol Harms, Executive Director of Senior Services of Central Illinois, Adam Mejerson, Founder and Executive Director of FitLot; Jack Handy, Executive Board Member for the Senior Olympics and members of AARP and the community.

“When you exercise, you feel better mentally and physically, there’s no question about that,” said Jack Handy, Illinois Senior Olympics Athlete and board member. “This is just another thing that people over the age of 50 can participate in and have fun.”

The event will feature free healthy food, giveaways* and FitLot^TM exercise equipment demonstrations.

The next outdoor fitness park sponsored by AARP is scheduled to open next Wednesday in Wilmington, Delaware, and more than a dozen parks are planned for 2019 in locations across the country.