LiveWell Louisiana

Outdoor Activities

The first FitLot Outdoor Fitness Park debuts in New Orleans.
May 3rd, 2017 by: Misty Milioto

Louisiana is the most obese state in the United States, and, sadly, many residents do not have access to safe and affordable fitness facilities. Now, after several years of planning, designing and fundraising, locally based non-profit FitLot has completed construction on its flagship FitLot fitness park. Known as The What You Give Will Grow FitLot, the outdoor public fitness park is named after the foundation of title sponsor and FitLot champion, New Orleans Saints Pro-bowl punter Thomas Morstead.

FitLot, which is designed to improve public health and safety in New Orleans, features a 1,700-square-foot shaded and safety surfaced area that has 15 pieces of outdoor fitness equipment and more than 50 attachment sites for resistance bands. The equipment is suitable for all abilities for those ages 14 and older, and it’s designed to withstand the weather. FitLot is located next to the playground at the Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center, which is sited along the path of the 2.6-mile Lafitte Greenway that connects 17 neighborhoods from City Park to the French Quarter.

The park will have a team of FitLot Neighborhood Coaches to help provide free guidance and fitness programs to community members. Also be sure to look for the free Wednesday workouts taking place now through June 14 at 5:30 p.m. The group circuit-training workouts allows everyone to work at their own pace and comfort level.

“This park is the first of many outdoor fitness facilities we hope to build in New Orleans and throughout the country,” says FitLot co-founder and Executive Director, Adam Mejerson. “Our goal is to provide the community with access to free, safe fitness spaces and instruction, in order to make it as easy as possible for people to achieve healthy active lifestyles.” 2200 Lafitte Ave., fitlot.org, facebook.com/fitlot