The Physically Active Residential Communities and Schools (PARCS) program provides low-cost fitness and wellness services to urban areas in Indianapolis. Since 2005, PARCS has fostered a healthier Indianapolis through accessible fitness options. In partnership with Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and the Boner Fitness & Learning Center (the Fitness Zone), PARCS helps reduce barriers to physical activity in near-downtown communities. These collaborations offer residents a safe space to exercise, attend group fitness classes or receive personal training services.
Maddie Crisler, M.S., PARCS program director, leads a team of kinesiology students who work directly with clients to set health goals and develop personalized exercise plans tailored to their wellness needs. This hands-on experience equips the students with practical skills as they prepare to enter the workforce.
For clients, the program’s benefits are substantial. Thousands of Indianapolis residents have been working out with PARCS for over a decade.
Will King is one of the original members, joining in 2012 when the facility opened on the near east side in conjunction with the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis. Now 89, King is a cancer survivor with only one kidney, yet he remains committed to his health, visiting the Fitness Zone five times a week.
His favorite aspect of PARCS is the supportive environment, where he stays active alongside others with similar health goals. While King doesn’t utilize the free student-led personal training services, he regularly interacts with the students and appreciates their welcoming demeanor.
Longtime members and newer participants alike share similar positive experiences.
Jim Grim, who has a unique history with the PARCS program, was the community school coordinator at George Washington High School (GWHS)—an IPS school on the near west side of Indianapolis—when PARCS was first introduced in 2005. He recalls when the facility smelled like “wet, mildewing socks” before the school underwent a $37 million renovation.
Although Grim was deeply involved in the partnership between IPS and IU Indianapolis, he didn’t personally use the facilities for exercise until years later, finally joining in September 2023.
“I now regret waiting 20 years to utilize the program,” Grim said. “I could have been working out here the 14 years I worked in the building.”
Since joining, Grim has followed a specialized routine crafted by kinesiology students, helping him meet his health goals. Within six months, his blood pressure dropped, and he stopped experiencing frequent night leg cramps.
Grim emphasized that PARCS benefits extend beyond physical fitness. “PARCS is an IU Indianapolis legacy that serves the engaged students, faculty, and the broader Indianapolis community,” he said.
PARCS not only helps adults in the community to achieve their lifestyle goals, but the program was also added to the official list of extracurriculars for students. Some GWHS students who participated in PARCS during high school went on to earn degrees from the School of Health & Human Sciences.
PARCS is more than just a place to exercise; it bridges the gap between IU Indianapolis and the community while helping people live their best lives. After nearly 20 years, its impact stretches far beyond fitness. For information about joining PARCS or working as a student at a PARCS location, contact Maddie Crisler.