Supporting a Stronger New Orleans
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A Call for Support for the Development of the Greater New Orleans FitLot Network of Outdoor Fitness Parks
FitLot is a New Orleans-based, national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities find the resources they need to plan, build, and activate outdoor fitness parks. Founded in 2013, FitLot’s vision is for every American to have access to a cost-free public exercise space within walking distance of their homes.
The Challenge
Americans suffer from more lifestyle-related, preventable illnesses than any other country in the developed world.
Unfortunately, the communities suffering the most often have the least resources to improve health outcomes and create fitness opportunities.
FitLot exists to help bridge that gap.
A Community Centric Response to the Pandemic
COVID-19 has created social isolation, unemployment, and limited access to fitness facilities while putting a strain on physical and mental health. Communities throughout the country are being forced to forge a new normal while finding fresh solutions to long-term problems.
Outdoor Fitness Parks are a Solution
Each FitLot is a community space for people to get active, connect with neighbors, and proactively care for their health. The FitLot model is an innovative response to the challenges of lifestyle-related health issues, ever-growing public health disparities, and inequitable access to quality fitness equipment and instruction.
Flagship FitLot
New Orleans Needs To Get Stronger
Health Inequity
Our city suffers from some of the country’s worst health outcomes and the largest life expectancy gaps in the nation. Residents in the Treme neighborhood live 25-30 years less than people in neighborhoods only two miles away!
We found this data shocking, and we knew that our first park should serve this community.
Our flagship FitLot was completed in 2017 and serves the Faubourg Lafitte community along the Lafitte Greenway.
The What You Give Will Grow FitLot Outdoor Fitness Park
“We wanted to show people that what you give can actually grow into a community space and resource for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy. We believe that strong, healthy individuals are the foundation of strong, healthy communities, and the What You Give Will Grow FitLot is now a community space for all to benefit from.”
Thomas Morstead
NFL Pro-Bowl Punter, New Orleans Saints
Founder, What You Give Will Grow Foundation
AARP Partnership
AARP teamed up with FitLot to celebrate its 60th anniversary by sponsoring the donation and activation of one FitLot in each state and three U.S. territories (53 new parks total). Our favorite part of this initiative is that each FitLot comes with a 3-year program grant for the Parks and Rec department to hire local fitness professionals who will lead 54 fun, no-cost community classes for all ages each year.
“These fitness parks are a tangible example of AARP’s commitment to local communities and healthy aging. The outdoor exercise equipment encourages people of all ages to get out of the house, meet others, and stay fit.”
Morie Smile
Vice President of Community Engagement, AARP
Projected Impact of Programs
No-cost community fitness classes at each AARP-Sponsored FitLot Outdoor Fitness Park help activate the space for residents of all ages and abilities. FitLot distributes programming funds to each partner city which supports 54 classes/year with 8-25 participants per class.
8,586
Community fitness classes offered over 4 years
134,347
Residents within a 10-minute walk
$584,590
Program funds distributed to communities
214,650
Opportunities to attend a no-cost fitness class
Now that FitLot has successfully launched a national outdoor fitness initiative from New Orleans, we want to continue what we started. FitLot would like to help raise the capital needed to plan, build, and program a network of outdoor fitness parks that will create equitable access to outdoor fitness spaces and instruction for more New Orleanians.
The map below features at least one potentially ideal location for a FitLot in each Council District.
Existing green spaces have been identified by the Councilmembers of those Districts as being an impactful location for the addition of an outdoor community fitness park.
While this is one possible framework of a Greater New Orleans network, the final site selection work will be collaborative and community-driven.
Explore the Network Map
On the map below, click the icon in the upper left corner to view the list of potential FitLot park locations in Orleans (blue) and Jefferson (yellow). Current FitLot parks (red) are included along with existing non-FitLot outdoor fitness parks (green). Click on a marker to view details of the park, including approximate number of residents served within a 10-minute walk.
BY THE NUMBERS
2.5%
823,499 people live in the New Orleans, Metairie Statistical Area and only 2.5% live within walking distance of an outdoor fitness space
10-15 parks
The Greater New Orleans FitLot Network will consist of at least 10-15 FitLot Outdoor Fitness Parks planned, built, and activated in existing parks and similar public sites in Orleans and Jefferson parishes.
864 classes
In the first year of activation, there will be approximately 864 community fitness classes presented at no-cost to residents and led by experienced and certified FitLot Neighborhood Coaches.
73,243 people
We believe at least 75,000 area residents will live within a 10-minute walk of a FitLot once the GNO FitLot Network is built and activated.
Professional Installation
FitLot works with a team of certified installers who manage construction and installation and also assist with long term maintenance. Each park takes about 3 weeks to build.
The GNO Network of FitLots could be built in a matter of months, or the parks could be strategically rolled out over a longer period of time as a one or two-year impact initiative.
Sponsorship Benefits
Sponsoring a FitLot Outdoor Fitness Park makes a statement that you are truly dedicated to the long term health of the community you serve. People will interact with these public spaces multiple times a week to improve their health and quality of life for the next 20 years.
Logo Recognition and Custom Colors
The welcome sign, safety surfacing, and shade canopy all provide opportunities for sponsor recognition and logo placements.
In addition, park equipment can feature a custom color palette to match the branding of the sponsor.
Public Relations
Over the last two years, our Community Build Days, Ribbon Cuttings, and ongoing activation of the parks have all been well covered by news media outlets throughout the country.
In an 18-month period, the AARP FitLot Initiative was picked up by 98 different media outlets across America with a potential reach of over 65 million people. Along with print and online news outlets, almost half of these earned media hits were via local broadcast television news.
We’ve also had broad social media engagement by Mayors and other elected officials, parks and recreation department pages, FitLot coaches and users all across the country.
The sponsorship amount for the GNO FitLot Network is $3,000,000, an amount that builds a community legacy for at least 15-20 years.
Community Support
As we continue garnering support from organizations like NORDC and JPRD as well as elected leaders in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, we look forward to discussing this opportunity with you.
Contact
Adam Mejerson
Founder & Executive Director of FitLot, Inc.
4035 Washington Avenue // New Orleans, Louisiana 70125
Adam@fitlot.org // (504)264-1568
