How One Health Club Transformed an Outdoor Play Area into a Thriving Fitness Space
Health clubs are always looking for new ways to engage members, expand programming opportunities, and make better use of their available space. As outdoor fitness continues to grow in popularity, many facilities are discovering that the areas outside their walls can be just as valuable as the ones inside.
For EZ Fit Health Club, that opportunity started with an outdoor playground area that once served the facility's daycare program. The space had plenty more to offer, and club leadership saw the potential to transform it into a unique fitness destination that could support personal training, group exercise, and member engagement.
Working with MoveStrong, EZ Fit reimagined the area as a versatile outdoor training environment designed to complement its indoor offerings while creating new opportunities for programming and membership growth.
MoveStrong worked with the facility to create an environment that combined functional fitness stations, obstacle-inspired elements, and open training areas. The design allows trainers to build workouts around climbing, hanging, balancing, carrying, and other natural movement patterns while accommodating members of different ages and fitness levels.
Because the space was designed with programming in mind, it quickly became an extension of the club's training offerings rather than a standalone attraction.
A Different Kind of Fitness Experience
Members were drawn to the outdoor environment because it felt different from a traditional gym workout.
“It takes you back to when you were a kid, going outside, playing, and moving naturally. That’s really what we’re doing here.”
The space encourages movement in new ways while keeping workouts fun, challenging, and engaging for a wide range of users with different skillsets. Whether members are training one-on-one with a coach or participating in a group class, the outdoor setting creates an experience that feels enjoyable and motivating.
“People can really work at their own level. There are plenty of ways to modify the exercises, which means almost anyone can take part and enjoy the experience.”
Building Community and Membership Value
Beyond the workouts themselves, the outdoor fitness area has become a place where members connect, challenge one another, and enjoy training together, creating an atmosphere that keeps members engaged and coming back. The unique outdoor setting has also helped the club stand out while giving members something they won't find at every fitness facility.
For EZ Fit, Outdoor fitness became much more than an added amenity. It created new opportunities for trainers, expanded programming options for members, and brought new energy to a space that had potential. The project serves as an example of how thoughtful outdoor environments can help fitness facilities deliver experiences that keep members engaged both inside and outside the gym.