Originally published in the Eagle View’s November print edition and online Nov. 26.
NorthWest Arkansas Community College celebrated the grand opening of its new Fitness Court on Oct. 27. The ribbon cutting took place behind the Center for Health Professions building and brought together students, administrators, staff, and local community members.
The new outdoor court is the first major project finished as part of NWACC’s Campus Master Plan. The Fitness Court is about the size of a doubles tennis court and is free for anyone in the community to use. It’s designed for all fitness levels and can be used for individual workouts, group exercises. On the other side of the court is an outdoor learning area with Wi-Fi where students can study.
Brandom Gengelbach, President and CEO of the Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Geovanny Sarmiento, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement for the Rogers Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, both spoke at the event. Gengelbach began with a joke, saying, “Geovanny and I actually will be doing squats after this, raising money for NWACC here.” Sarmiento replied, “Pull ups?” which made the crowd laugh. Gengelbach smiled and said, “Oh, it could be both. You’re a pull-up guy—I can tell.”
Gengelbach then shared how important teamwork is in this region. “NWACC represents partnership and regionalism,” he said. “The business community is here to support you. This is just the first step toward more opportunities for businesses and young adults.”
Sarmiento followed by talking about his long connection to NWACC. “This is a long time coming,” he said. “Every student here has the opportunity to be successful and the resources to reach their goals. This project shows what’s possible when we come together to support education and growth.”
NWACC President Dr. Dennis Rittle introduced Brooke Brewer, the college’s Executive Director of Athletics and Institutional Branding, who helped lead the project. Brewer said, “This project is a perfect example of how we can provide opportunities for our students while also helping the Northwest Arkansas community. It’s not just for athletes—every student can use this facility from dawn to dusk. It’s for everyone.”
Brewer explained that the Fitness Court was made possible through a three-way partnership between NWACC, the National Fitness Campaign, and Flintco, which helped fund and build the project. NWACC’s Trails and Trades program also built the trail that connects the court to the main campus.
“We could not be here without the support of our partners, our foundation, and our community,” Brewer said. “This Fitness Court will serve NWACC students and the Northwest Arkansas community for years to come.”
At the end of the ceremony, the ribbon was cut by representatives from NWACC, Flintco, the Trails and Trades program, and local Chambers of Commerce—showing the strong partnership between Bentonville and Rogers.
Students who attended were asked if they were excited to start using the new court or if they planned to visit. Student Ethan Vongkhamchanh said, “Yes! I wanna come here.” His friend Clementine Zikhali joked, “He’s already started.” Vongkhamchanh laughed and continued saying, “I mean, I’m gonna probably, just for fun, try to come here after classes.” He added that he wants to do pull-ups on the court’s ring shaped handlebars. Zikhali said she would “come around and see what’s going on.”
The new NWACC Fitness Court is now open for public use and serves as a new space for health, community, and connection on campus.
