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Veteran Michael Perryman Uses Fitness Zone to Help on the Road back to Health, Thanks to Trust for Public Land Zones around the nation. In the past four years, The Trust for Public Land has built 52, including 41 in the Los Angeles area.
Michael Perryman’s health began to deteriorate after he suffered a stroke in 2010. He spent three months in the hospital, followed by extensive home recovery. A Vietnam veteran, Perryman was living on a fixed income and he wanted to exercise, but he couldn’t afford the monthly cost of joining a gym.
Tori Kjer, who manages some of the park projects in Los Angeles, explained, “The equipment is very userfriendly and intuitive. That’s one of the reasons it’s so popular. These new parks are creating spaces for neighbors to meet and families to spend time together, and for people to exercise and everyone to play.”
Perryman was living near his sister, Sue DeVaney, at her home in St. Petersburg, Florida and one day, she spotted a Fitness Zone installed by The Trust for Public Land in nearby Gladden Park. They are essentially outdoor gyms, free for all to use. “I went home and called Michael and we made a date to try it out,” she explained. “It was like an answered prayer.” Until that time last year, Michael hadn’t been out much. “I stayed indoors a lot,” he said recently. “I don’t want to say I was depressed, because I had a lot of people around caring for me. I just wasn’t thrilled with the situation I was in. It was a huge change.” “It had been about a year and a half since I’d had anywhere to work out,” he said. “I walked every day, but that’s about all I could do. I just didn’t feel good.”
Vietnam Veteran Mike Perryman poses with his sister Sue DeVaney on new equipment at the Fitness Zone opening at Gladden Park Recreational Center in St. Petersburg, Fla.
His sister, Sue, explained, “Once Michael was out of the hospital, he no longer qualified for physical therapy benefits. I checked around to see if any of the fitness clubs had specials for veterans or low-income folks, and they didn’t.” With the help of the Combined Federal Campaign and EarthShare, The Trust for Public Land is building Fitness
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The Trust for Public Land works to conserve land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, working lands, and other natural places. Supported by the Combined Federal Campaign, the organization works to ensure livable communities for generations to come. Michael has a clear goal: “My goal is to get back into shape and The Trust for Public Land Fitness Zone is a big help.” More information about the Trust for Public Land is available at tpl.org Story by Tim Ahern, Trust for Public Land Photo courtesy of the Trust for Public Land
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Photo Credit: Andrew Moran
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