New Fitness Center Opens At East Harlem Public Housing Complex

EAST HARLEM, NY — Free-to-use fitness equipment has been installed on the lawn of an East Harlem public housing development as part of a first-of-its-kind program run by the New York City Housing Authority, city officials announced Thursday.

NYCHA is partnering with Mount Sinai Hospital and the Trust for Public Land to install the equipment at the Carver Houses development on Madison Avenue at East 103rd Street, city officials said. The fitness facility was designed through NYCHA's Connected Communities program, which involved a two-year process of meeting with Carver residents to solicit ideas on how to best use the vacant space.

"Everyone deserves the opportunity to engage in physical fitness no matter where they live," Carter Strickland, New York State Director for the Trust for Public Land, said in a statement. "Given the rising trend of people exercising outdoors and the obstacles those in public housing face to being healthy, we teamed up with NYCHA and Mount Sinai Health Systems to provide East Harlem residents access to free exercise equipment right outside their front door."

The Trust for Public Land has partnered with municipal governments in Miami and Los Angeles to install similar fitness facilities. The Carver Houses facility is the first of its kind in New York City.

Equipment at the outdoor fitness center includes: A stationary bike, a free runner that resembles an elliptical machine, push-up and leg-lift stations, plyometric steps, triple bars for upper body training and a bench for core exercises. The triple bars are accessible for people with mobility disabilities.

NYCHA is currently seeking a partner to help run fitness programs at the site, and expects programming to begin later this year, city officials said.

"The Fitness Zone will be an important resource for residents, improving opportunities for physical activity and overall weight management, and providing an environment to encourage social support and interaction," David Reich, president and CEO of Mount Sinai Hospital, said in a statement.