The ribbon has been cut on the new Benton Harbor Fitness Court.

Representatives of several partners gathered for the celebration Monday after about four years of work to get the equipment installed at 110 Water Street, just across from Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park.

In 2021, the city purchased equipment for the Priority Health court using $50,000 grants from the National Fitness Campaign, Whirlpool, and Corewell Health. Speaking at the ribbon cutting, Priority Health’s Shannon Wilson said the organization has been promoting personal fitness all across the state with the courts. She said it’s good to come to Benton Harbor.

“Many of you may not know, but this has been four years in the making,” Wilson said. “So we’ve been working on this for a long time. And so when you see the smiles on our faces, it’s because we made it happen here in Benton Harbor.”

The outdoor fitness court enables a user to use their own body weight to train with concrete blocks for stepping and parkour, hanging rings for pullups, and metal bars for balance and lifting. Athletes from Benton Harbor High School demonstrated the equipment as part of the ribbon cutting.

Mayor Marcus Muhammad told us it took the whole community to make the space possible.

“We had Corewell, we had Whirlpool, we had Harbor Shores, we had everybody at the table,” Muhammad said. “You can see by the response, we have everyone out here today, and I think that reflects the collaboration, the cooperation that has made us successful thus far.”

Chris Cook of Harbor Shores Development provided the space for the court after the city initially had trouble identifying a place for it.

Speaking Monday, Andrew Hahn with Cornerstone Alliance noted the Fitness Court opens just as Benton Harbor launches its new social district. He joked someone can get a drink at one of the participating restaurants and then burn it off at the court.’