A new way to work out is available at ETSU: the brand-new Fitness Court is available on campus. Funded by Campus Recreation, the Facilities Improvement Fund and the National Fitness Campaign, the project provides a unique outdoor space for community members to work out.
The new Fitness Court is a concrete foundation with seven different workout stations, generating hundreds of exercise variations. The Fitness Court runs on bodyweight movement alone, with no machines or power source, and is designed for any workout difficulty.
Located near the on-campus walking trails, intramural fields and adventure course, the Fitness Court gives users variety in their workout and offers a distinct experience from going into the gym.
Kari Albarado, director of Campus Recreation, said the location of the fitness court allows for a complete, boot-camp-type workout. She also said the scenery of being outdoors while exercising can have positive health benefits.
“A lot of people utilize the ETSU walking trails that go around the fields, the football stadium and the challenge course in the evenings and afternoons to work out,” Albarado said. “So this is just a great addition for them to have a new space to work out at.”
The National Fitness Campaign has a mission to build free outdoor Fitness Courts within a 10-minute bike ride of every American by 2030.
“Something that’s special about this partnership is we’re the first university in the state of Tennessee to partner with them,” Albarado said, “and I’m really proud of that designation.”
In an effort to build healthier communities, the outdoor space is intended for students, faculty, staff, as well as the whole Johnson City community, to take advantage of.
The Center for Physical Activity offers a class dedicated to using the outdoor Fitness Court, available Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
“It’s a high-intensity interval training class where there’s a group fitness instructor and they go through the different stations and the workout with you. So I would encourage anyone to participate,” Albarado said. “It’s a new space, and there are times where I see folks walking up, reading about it, and I think that they’re unsure of how to use it. That’s where the group fitness class comes in.”
In addition, there are QR codes on each station that link to the Fitness Court app, which provides detailed explanations on multiple ways to do each station. The app also lets users track workout progress, locate Fitness Courts nearby and check in at their location.
Plans for the Fitness Court were made back in October 2025, construction started in late June 2026, and the official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. Since the ceremony, community members have been taking advantage of the space. In that same time, the weather has brought relentless heat. Proper hydration and lower-intensity workouts are encouraged when exercising in extreme heat.
“We want to make sure that the people who are using it are taking care of their bodies, too,” Albarado said.
