Gua Zhou County is swiftly advancing the construction of a "15-minute fitness circle" to enhance public sports services. Currently, work is underway at multiple sites, including the Sports Park in the Eco-Cultural Innovation Zone, the Public Fitness Center, and standard athletic tracks and soccer fields. These efforts aim to address the shortage of public fitness facilities and make exercise more accessible to residents.

At the construction site of the Sports Park in the Eco-Cultural Innovation Zone, located north of Kangning Residential Area and east of Innovation Town in Yuangquan Town, excavators and transport vehicles are busy at work. Construction personnel are focused on completing underground infrastructure. Wang Zhigang, the on-site project manager from Gansu Banghua Construction Engineering Co., Ltd., stated, "We are currently installing underground pipelines and building foundational structures. Soon, we will begin landscaping and hard surface paving. The park is expected to open in September."

The Sports Park project integrates existing water systems and green spaces to create a multi-functional outdoor area combining ecology, sports, and leisure. It will feature an ecological plaza, fitness trails, a children’s playground, and courts for basketball, soccer, badminton, and table tennis. Additional amenities will include smart fitness equipment, rest pavilions, and parking facilities, catering to residents of all ages.

Wang Zhigang emphasized, "This project merges physical activity with natural surroundings and recreation, offering an open, all-ages, and smart outdoor sports space that allows residents to enjoy green fitness close to home."

In parallel, the Public Fitness Center project, situated west of Xinzhou Tianyu in Yuangquan Town, has entered a critical phase of main structural work. Han Lijun, the project lead from Gansu Zhongling Hongrui Construction Co., Ltd., shared, "The Public Fitness Center covers over 4,300 square meters. The first-floor concrete pouring is complete, and construction of the second floor is underway. Fire safety, landscaping, and supporting facilities are also progressing simultaneously. The center is expected to be operational by the end of August."

The three-story fitness center will include a standard five-a-side basketball court, along with spaces for badminton, volleyball, table tennis, billiards, yoga, and gym workouts. It will also offer a small fitness plaza, jogging paths, and parking areas, supporting the promotion of public fitness and meeting growing exercise demands.

Han Lijun added, "Upon completion, the center will meet diverse sports needs and enrich community cultural life. We are committed to ensuring quality, safety, and progress to deliver a reliable and high-standard facility that contributes to a healthier Gua Zhou."

Chang Wei, Deputy Director of the Gua Zhou County Sports Center, noted, "Our goal is to continuously meet the public’s rising fitness expectations by addressing gaps in sports infrastructure. Currently, projects such as the Public Fitness Center, the Eco-Cultural Innovation Zone Sports Park, and standard athletic tracks and soccer fields—supported by central government funds—have fully resumed construction."

In recent years, Gua Zhou has actively sought higher-level funding and planned targeted sports projects to overcome limitations in fitness venues and equipment. The three major initiatives—outdoor sports parks, indoor fitness centers, and standardized tracks and fields—complement one another, reflecting the county’s commitment to improving public services and advancing sports development.

Chang Wei concluded, "We are strictly following construction procedures to ensure quality, safety, and timelines. Once operational, these facilities will effectively resolve the issue of accessible fitness spaces, achieving the '15-minute fitness circle' goal for urban communities. They will also provide a solid foundation for a higher-level public fitness service system, integrating exercise with public health and improving overall physical fitness and wellness."