Portage’s 19th park is officially open at the corner of Airport and Lute roads. It features an outdoor fitness center that Assistant Parks and Recreation Superintendent John Harrison said is the first of its kind in Northwest Indiana.

The $195,000 facility was developed with a combination of park impact fee revenue and a $30,000 grant from the National Fitness Center, new Parks and Recreation Superintendent Kelly Smith said.

“It’s original. It’s not something you have in other communities,” Smith said.

She’s excited about the possibilities the new fitness center offers. One side is set up for individuals to exercise using rings and other features. A QR code directs users to a website that helps them tailor a fitness program for their own needs.

An open area is set up for use by groups. Smith envisions yoga or aerobics classes as well as other potential uses.

A large grassy field surrounds the fitness center. Meg Bonta, who cut the ribbon for the new fitness center, said her husband, Mayor Austin Bonta, wants to name the area Miami Park in honor of the indigenous people who once inhabited the area.

Harrison said planning for the new park began in April. The National Fitness Center organization contacted the park department, and others in the Bonta administration agreed the outdoor fitness center was a good idea.

Meg Bonta said she and her husband have already tried out the equipment. “He and I went together. We both love to be outdoors,” she said.

Passersby honked and waved, greeting them.

Portage Township School Board Vice President Wilma Vasquez said thousands of people drive past the new park.

“It’s so accessible to everyone,” she said. “It’s for the betterment of the community.”

Her son, Councilman Ferdinand Alvarez, has already tried it out. “I have attempted the pull-up challenge, and I only lasted about 15 seconds of the recommended one minute,” he said.

“It’s a great alternative to a gym membership, which can be costly for some people,” Alvarez said.

“It’s a welcome addition to the park infrastructure of the city,” he said.

Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.