Striving to increase physical fitness and encourage healthy lifestyles in today’s youth, the 49ers continued an established history of working with local schools, celebrating the grand opening of an innovative, new outdoor fitness zone for students at Don Callejon School on Nov. 3.
Built as part of the 49ers’ commitment to the NFL’s Play 60 Initiative and helping children achieve a healthy lifestyle by having fun through physical activity, the team collaborated with Optum to construct the outdoor facility for the students of Don Callejon Middle School.
Prior to opening the new fitness zone, the 49ers and Optum conducted a health and fitness assembly in the Don Callejon multi-purpose room, with a special appearance by Sourdough Sam.
The fitness zone will be integrated into the school’s physical education program and allows for up to 24 students to exercise at once – an inspiring venue for the children to become physically fit, while also enhancing the outdoor landscaping of the school. The fitness zone is also earth-friendly, requiring no electricity and no scheduled maintenance.
Final assembly of the fitness equipment on Nov. 3 included assistance from 49ers players and staff, including long snapper Kyle Nelson, LB Michael Wilhoite, LB Chris Borland and safety Craig Dahl. 49ers management representatives Mara and Jenna York also helped out.
The 49ers players and representatives from Greenfields Outdoor Fitness helped instruct the 30 after-school sports students in trying out the new equipment, which use one’s own body for resistance.
Greenfields Outdoor Fitness, Robert A. Bothman, Inc., Crusader Fence Company, Tot Turf and the 49ers have been preparing the site by drilling footings for equipment and fencing, installing fencing and permanent posts for equipment, as well as installing impact surfacing for the project for several weeks.
The 49ers also constructed an outdoor fitness zone at Peterson Middle School in 2012 (http://www.santaclaraweekly.com/2012/Issue-40/49ers_help_build_fitness_zone.html) and assisted in building an indoor fitness center at Buchser Middle School in 2008 (http://scweekly.blogspot.com/2008/09/49ers-dedicate-fitness-zone-at-buchser.html).
