Cleveland, OH,
26
October
2022
|
09:29 AM
America/New_York

MetroHealth Helps Make Playground Repairs, Update Fitness Zones on Cleveland’s East Side

playground

Being more active while paying nothing out of pocket just got a little easier for residents on the east side of Cleveland, thanks to MetroHealth and a group of dedicated community members.

MetroHealth recently repaired children’s playgrounds and updated fitness zones in the Buckeye neighborhood. The work was made possible by a grant from Fifth Third Bank.

In 2015, leaders from the Healthy Eating and Active Living initiative (HEAL), Trust for Public Land and a few donors worked together to bring healthy options to communities that needed them most. As a result, fitness zones are strategically placed throughout the Buckeye neighborhood and surrounding communities at organizations including East End Neighborhood House, Inc. where the playground was just renovated and reopened; Fairhill Partners, where new turf is being installed to make it wheelchair accessible; and the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority's Woodhill Community Center. 

“Without the help and dedication from MetroHealth and Fifth Third Bank, we would not have been able to use our playground and fitness zones,” said Atunyese V. Herron, Executive Director at East End Neighborhood House, Inc. “Playgrounds are the foundation for children as they grow and play outdoors. The fitness zone has been a tool for our community to use at their leisure for exercise. Now, we can re-open them both for use again.”

Each fitness area features durable resistance training and cardiovascular equipment such as elliptical machines, leg and chest presses and recumbent bicycles – all of which are outside and designed to handle all seasons. The three installations are also adjacent to kids' play areas, so parents and caregivers can get in a workout while children play.

Healthcare does not start and stop within the four walls of a hospital. There are many other factors that contribute to a person’s overall wellbeing. The parks and fitness zones provide an outlet and a safe place for children and adults to develop.

“At MetroHealth’s Institute for H.O.P.E.TM, we know the majority of a person’s health depends on many factors beyond medical care and access to physical activity is just one of them,” said Susan Fuehrer, President, MetroHealth Institute for H.O.P.E.TM “We are proud to partner with community institutions like East End Neighborhood House, Inc. to provide access to safe play and exercise for our neighbors.”

About The MetroHealth System

Founded in 1837, MetroHealth is leading the way to a healthier you and a healthier community through service, teaching, discovery, and teamwork. Cuyahoga County’s public, safety-net hospital system, MetroHealth meets people where they are, providing care through five hospitals, four emergency departments and more than 20 health centers. Each day, our nearly 9,000 employees focus on providing our community with equitable healthcare — through patient-focused research, access to care, and support services — that seeks to eradicate health disparities rooted in systematic barriers. For more information, visit metrohealth.org.