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Recommendation to City Council to Approve a Resolution to Apply for the National Fitness Campaign Grant to Fund the Installation of a Fitness Court® Studio.
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Meeting Date: January 6, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Adam Ferguson/ PRCS
Phone Number: (310) 253-6685
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Department Approval: Adam Ferguson, PRCS Deputy Director
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Commission recommend to City Council to approve a resolution to apply for the National Fitness Campaign Grant to fund the installation of a Fitness Court® Studio.
BACKGROUND
New data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a concerning rise in obesity rates across the United States. As of 2024, every state and territory now have an obesity rate exceeding 20%. During the CDC study, California was spotlighted with a 28-29% obesity rate. The CDC concludes that the problem with physical activity is rooted in our disconnection from the outdoors, despite the clear benefits of spending time in nature. Research from various other studies have shown that spending as little as 10 minutes outside can improve mental health, and 120 minutes per week is linked to higher well-being. Expanding parks, adding miles of trails, and creating more walkable communities are some strategies to reduce a sedentary lifestyle.
In the 2025 Culver City Parks Plan (Plan), programming improvements are discussed through a pyramid structure with the base of the pyramid being composed of amenities. On page 113 of the Plan, the pyramid structure is described. “Base amenities should make up the largest number of services offered, while special events [at the top of the pyramid] are less frequent.” This amenity-based strategy is further discussed in the Plan as being themed, possibly semi-permanent, and allowing self-directed activities. The activities are broken up into categories, one of which is fitness and wellness related activities, such as yoga, high-intensity classes, or league sports.
The PRCS Department has worked to begin adding amenities that allow for self-directed fitness and wellness focused programming. One project was to work with GameTime to make the Culver West Alexander Park playground listed as a National Demonstration Site. This became official on July 31, 2025, and PRCS has been working with GameTime to design a playground that focuses on the six key elements of play that promote fitness and help children reach moderate to vigorous levels of physical activity.
The National Fitness Campaign is helping PRCS continue the amenity-based approach to fitness and wellness. The Fitness Court® Studio operates as an outdoor wellness hub in parks to provide easy access to exercise opportunities and help foster a culture of wellness in the Culver City community.
DISCUSSION
The Fitness Court® Studio contains two fitness areas. The first area is designed to provide a full body workout in only seven minutes by creating zones of movement. Each zone focuses on one of the following areas:
• Agility
• Bend
• Core
• Lunge
• Pull
• Push
• Squat
Participants can utilize the zones to plan their own workouts or use the free National Fitness Campaign app to learn about each zone, be instructed through a workout, and to track their progress. Certified Ambassadors are also available to provide classes or hold clinics.
The second area is an open studio classroom. The open area can be used by participants to warm-up and to cool down after they have finished the work-out. It also provides PRCS a great space to host classes in Zumba, yoga, aerobics, and dance. The two spaces are divided by a wall that is built as a dynamic art piece that showcases the value and inspiration that exists from connecting the power of the arts with the joy of wellness. The National Fitness Campaign will work with the Cultural Affairs Division to find a local artist to design the wall.
The Fitness Court® is a rising amenity that is being utilized by municipalities and schools across the country to provide opportunities for everyone to become more physically active. Some California cities that have installed a Fitness Court® include:
• Veterans Park in Redondo Beach, CA
• Lynwood Park in Lynwood, CA
• Riverfront Park in Maywood, CA
• Alhambra Park in Alhambra, CA
• Barnes Park in Monterey Park, CA
• Montebello City Park, in Montebello, CA
Some universities that have installed the Fitness Court® on their campuses include:
• California State University, Fresno in Fresno, CA
• Standford University in Standford, CA
• University of California Davis in Davis, CA
• Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, CA
• Yuba College in Marysville, CA
There are a few locations within Culver City that are being considered for the Fitness Court®. They include at the entrance of Culver City Park, in the center of Culver City Park along Leash Lane where the CalTrans storage facility is currently located, or at Tellefson Park instead of the sand volleyball court mentioned in the Plan. Having multiple options makes the grant application more desirable because it opens up the discussion of the Fitness Court® location to allow for community input through community meetings and/or surveys.
The National Fitness Campaign believes each Fitness Court® Studio is a long-term partnership with the municipality that installs it. Depending on the individual fitness equipment, Fitness Court® Studio comes with a number of warranties that help make sure the equipment stays operational. The Fitness Court® Studio is coated with the same anti-graffiti laminate that is used on commercial aircraft allowing the equipment to be easily cleaned with a pressure washer.
By bringing the Fitness Court® to Culver City, the City will become part of the National Campaign network spotlighting Culver City as a community focused on health and fitness.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The cost of the Fitness Court® Studio falls within a range of $160,000-$270,000 depending on the type of court, if there are any additional amenities such as shade structures, and the type of public artwork that is commissioned. The grant for the Fitness Court® Studio can cover up to $30,000 of the costs. The City of Culver City has Measure A funding, which could be used to cover the remaining costs. Measure A is a Los Angeles County grant where the funding is paid through reimbursement. The PRCS Department will need to request money from the General Fund during the budget process to pay for the equipment first before receiving Measure A funding. The National Fitness Campaign does recommend $2,000 be allocated per year to allow for continued maintenance of the equipment.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
Recommended Action
MOTION
That the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission:
Recommend to City Council to approve a resolution to apply for the National Fitness Campaign Grant to fund the installation of a Fitness Court® Studio.