A new outdoor fitness court is open to the public in Waukee after its dedication on Wednesday, Sept. 10, born from an idea to remember a late local fitness community member.
The new outdoor fitness court at Ridge Pointe Park adjacent to the regional Heart of the Warrior Trail is much more than the original idea of a pull-up bar that CrossFit Waukee members had suggested to the city to remember former gym member Kara Ungerman.
The court is a free to use, seven-station bodyweight circuit training system for people 14 years and older to do core, squat, push, pull, lunge, agility and bending exercises. A free mobile app is available to coach workouts.
Ungerman died two years ago shortly after giving birth to her first child, according to an Instagram post from CrossFit Waukee. She had a love for fitness, specifically pull-ups.
Ungerman’s husband Andy Ungerman, along with CrossFit Waukee member Brad Munford and CrossFit Waukee gym co-owner Laura Hoegh, began to discuss how they could use money donated in her honor to give back to the community.
“We’re in life together. Let’s work out together,” Hoegh said Wednesday.
That led to Matt Jermier, Waukee’s Parks and Recreation director. Jermier combined the group’s idea with what he knew about the National Fitness Campaign — a wellness consulting firm with the aim of funding 5,000 outdoor fitness courts across the U.S. by 2030, according to its website.
Waukee’s outdoor fitness court is one of only six in Iowa listed as funded by the National Fitness Campaign. The other five courts are at Riverview Park in Clinton, Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, Municipal Park in Le Mars, Marshalltown High School and Buchanan Park in Milford.
The fitness court in Waukee, with landscaping, cost $185,000, according to a city news release. The National Fitness Campaign contributed $30,000, and the city also received support from the Dallas County Foundation, the Rotary Club of Waukee, I-80 Concrete and CrossFit Waukee.
Rules for use of the outdoor fitness court and links to the mobile workout app are available at waukee.org/564/Ridge-Pointe-Park.
Reggie Hoegh, co-owner of the CrossFit Waukee gym, said workouts last 45 seconds followed by 15 seconds of transition time to the next station.
The National Fitness Campaign Fitness Court is seen at Ridge Pointe Park on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Waukee.
Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. Find out more about him online in the Register’s staff directory.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Waukee outdoor fitness court honors CrossFit Waukee member