Get Moving With New Outdoor Exercise Station

A new fitness park in St. Paul is designed to help adults of all ages improve their strength, balance, aerobic capacity and flexibility.  

Located at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, at 270 N. Kent St. in the Rondo neighborhood, the public exercise space is the 53rd and final such structure in AARP’s mission to promote healthy living by building a park in every state, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C. 

As a way to celebrate its 60th anniversary, AARP started constructing the fitness parks in 2019, to promote physical activity, to foster healthy aging and to address health disparities. The sites are located within existing parks and feature exercise equipment provided by the nonprofit FitLot.

The approximately 1,400-square-foot structure contains stationary and movable equipment, resistance band attachments, instructional signs with QR codes, rubber safety surfacing and a sun canopy. The elliptical, stair-stepper, chest press and hand cycle all have adjustable resistance dials to accommodate various fitness levels, helping provide a well-rounded workout.

The park initiative includes a three-year grant to fund 54 free instructor-led fitness classes each year for people of all ages and abilities. Learn more at fitlot.org/aarp.

—Mary Van Beusekom