MARSING, Idaho — Owyhee County is taking steps to combat the growing obesity epidemic in rural Idaho and make fitness more accessible.
On Thursday afternoon in Marsing, a ceremonial groundbreaking of the free Owyhee County Fitness Court happened next to Marsing School District Office.
Officials said the unique outdoor exercise court is expected to be finished by the end of 2024 if weather permits. The latest completion date would be in Spring 2025.
The Owyhee Health Coalition is one of the leaders of this project, along with City of Marsing, Marsing School District, National Fitness Campaign, and more.
The building of this court is in alignment with Owyhee County’s bigger goal of helping the community develop long-term healthy lifestyles and fight obesity.
"Health and wellness is really essential to living a long and happy life. So, the National Fitness Campaign, really our goal is to make health and wellness accessible to everyone, regardless of your age or ability,” McKenzie Coltrin of the National Fitness Campaign said.
Coltrin said the outdoor court would be free and open for anyone to use. The court size will be 38x38 feet and will come with a digital training platform, also free of charge.
The fitness area will be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant so the court is “intended for individuals that might have a disability or be able to move a wheelchair around. They can do that at this fitness court. It also acts accessible for any age group. So, it really does cover the entire community,” Hailee Ketchum of Owyhee Health Coalition and Southwest Health District told KTVB Thursday.
Major partners and donors include the City of Marsing, National Fitness Campaign, St. Luke's Fit One, and many others who worked together to make this project happen for Owyhee County. A list of additional donors and funders can be viewed here.
Emily Hendrickson of Integra, another project partner, attributes much of the project’s success to good relationships and good people.
"It's really relationship-based work. We all come from small communities, and we know kind of the difference that partnerships like this can really make," she said.
The projected total cost of the project is $200,000. With this funding, a range of exercise stations will be made accessible on the fitness court, including strength training, stretching, and agility workouts.
Despite Thursday's groundbreaking work, it is not quite done yet. The court still needs $20,000 from sponsors or donor support to complete it.
If you are interested in contributing to the Owyhee Community Fitness Court, you can donate directly at this link or reach out to Jolyn Thompson of City of Marsing or Hailee Ketchum of Owyhee Health Coalition and Southwest District Health.
