After months of hard work, the Warrior Fitness Park is opening Tuesday at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center.
A ribbon cutting will be held at 3 p.m. today north of the main entrance to the domiciliary, building 202.
The park was made possible through multiple donations in funding, more than $34,200, goods and manpower, according to a Temple VA news release.
U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, will participate in the celebration of the Warrior Fitness Park— the first of its kind in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Central Texas Veterans Health Care System provided the space and additional manpower.
“I am excited the Warrior Fitness Park has become a reality,” Christopher Sandles, outgoing director of Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, said in the release. “Thanks to the many donors and the work of our kinesiotherapy and voluntary service staff, our veterans will now have another option available to work out and achieve a healthier life style. I look for other VAs to take our lead and establish more of these parks across the nation.”
The idea for the Warrior Fitness Park came early in 2017 when the need was identified for an open exercise and fitness area that could be accessible to all veterans, according to the release. A booklet was created to share with veterans groups, organizations, businesses and other individuals showing the proposed vision to “provide a secure, outdoor exercise opportunity for veterans to use after clinic hours and on weekends. The park design will offer veterans an accessible environment to relieve stress and help promote a healthy lifestyle through vigorous exercise and coordinated movement in a safe area.”
Exercise equipment at the park includes a tire flip and pull, battle ropes, pull up and dip station, multi bars, horizontal bar, push-up bars, squat press, outdoor rowing machine, outdoor exercise bike, combo press and pull, sit-up bench and board, dual leg press and more.
— Temple Daily Telegram