Community fitness programs
- Issue Areas
- Health and well-being Financial security
Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help residents access health services. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
- Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program overview
Promoting community well-being: Community fitness programs promote public access to a variety of exercise and wellness activities. Such programming aims to increase physical activity and fitness.
Facilitating fitness activities: Community fitness programs are typically operated by public parks and recreation departments, nonprofit community centers, or private gyms. Programs may organize residents with similar fitness interests and/or offer instructor-led wellness classes. Some programs may also offer financial incentives to encourage sustained participation in classes.
Varied focuses and target populations: In addition to exercise-oriented classes (e.g., yoga, indoor cycling, basketball), community fitness programs may offer more general wellness classes, such as nutrition education. Programs may be open to all members of the public, or may focus on addressing the needs of certain groups (e.g., older adults, individuals with disabilities).
- Strategies
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Parks and public spaces
- Cost per Participant
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Not available
Multiple studies with rigorous designs demonstrate that community fitness programs are a well-supported strategy for increasing physical activity and fitness.
- This assessment is based on evidence from a 2023 systematic review.
Incorporate community input: When designing community fitness programs, local leaders should incorporate community input when selecting the type and structure of fitness programs. Aligning offerings with residents’ interests may increase participation rates.
Conduct broad outreach: Community fitness programs should actively market their programmatic offerings to members of their community. Potential avenues for outreach include direct mail, digital advertising, partnerships with established community-based organizations, among others. Using multiple communication methods may help programs reach a broader audience.
Consider geographic location: When fitness activities are conveniently located, residents will be more likely to access them, especially on an ongoing basis. Community fitness programs should consider locating programming based on where the highest interest in a given activity exists (e.g., locating programming for older adults near senior housing).
Identify opportunities for collaboration: In many communities, fitness programming is offered by multiple organizations. By convening these organizations, local leaders may be able to avoid offering duplicative programming, share data and feedback on community preferences, and ensure better geographic coverage in their area.