UPPER NAZARETH TWP., Pa. — Squat, push, lunge, pull, bend. And don’t forget core and agility training.
Your next full-body workout may not even take you 10 minutes — but you’ll have to head to Upper Nazareth to get the chance.
The township on Saturday unveiled its new fitness court, which is set in Liebert Park just behind the municipal building at 100 Newport Ave.
The court touts seven movement zones, all highlighting different muscle groups and abilities. For example, one can do jump lunges and side box lunges in Zone 4 to build up their hamstrings, quadriceps and glutes.
“Fitness has always been a part of my life, and working out and trying to live a healthier lifestyle."Andrew Hersh, Upper Nazareth Township resident
The amenity is optimized to offer a brief but effective workout experience if needed, officials said. Users can exercise for 45 seconds, follow that with 15 seconds of rest and be through each zone around the seven-minute mark.
If you don't know what exercises to try, displays on the court wall offer some examples of effective movements in each zone. Scan a nearby QR code to get more ideas on different workout possibilities.
A way of life
Township residents Andrew Hersh and his son Ty, 17, were checking out the new amenity on Saturday.
Ty took a liking to the jump boxes, as he’s done parkour — getting from Point A to Point B by using the obstacles in your path — for nearly a decade, he said.
“Fitness has always been a part of my life, and working out and trying to live a healthier lifestyle,” Andrew said.
In demand
As seen from a recreation survey sent to residents around four years ago, locals want more passive recreation and adult recreation options nearby, according to Township Manager Lisa Klem.
Signage at the court requests users be at least 14 years old and weigh less than 300 lbs.
“We have a lot of fields for the kids, football and lacrosse and all those things, but we don’t have a lot for adult fitness,” Klem said.
“So we wanted to really focus on something that is geared toward adults.”
“We have a lot of fields for the kids, football and lacrosse and all those things, but we don’t have a lot for adult fitness. So we wanted to really focus on something that is geared toward adults.”Upper Nazareth Township Manager Lisa Klem
Klem estimated the court to cost about $280,000. That includes around $30,000 provided through a grant from the National Fitness Campaign and funds from other local donors, including Martin Guitar and St. Luke’s University Health Network, among others.
NACC board member and township resident Michael Woodland gave his kudos to Upper Nazareth for making the “really nice addition to the neighborhood” come to fruition.
“I appreciate [the township] being proactive and making use of the space to help people stay outside, get healthy, make good use of the resources we have,” Woodland said.
Meet a friend
There’s also a space on the other side of the court’s main wall to serve group exercise classes.
Ted Snow, sports performance coach with St. Luke’s, said it’s not always just about the physical exercise with spaces like the fitness court.
“The best part about adult group training is not just bringing people together and getting healthy, getting fit, but that socialization aspect that builds a stronger community within the community."Ted Snow, sports performance coach with St. Luke’s University Health Network
“The best part about adult group training is not just bringing people together and getting healthy, getting fit, but that socialization aspect that builds a stronger community within the community,” Snow said.
St. Luke’s will collaborate with the township to develop exercise programming for group events at the fitness court, officials said.
