



The first time I saw a public outdoor exercise area with free equipment to use was in Israel five or six years ago. Since then I have always thought this would be a great addition to San Jose, especially given our weather and the fact that San Jose is one of the healthiest cities in the US. It looks like we are finally getting such a space in 2017.A one-mile-long exercise loop will be built in Downtown San Jose thanks to donations from Kaiser Permanente, the Sharks Foundation, and SAP. The loop will consist of two exercise elements: the loop itself (which is designed for walking, jogging, or running) and a "Fitness Hub" in the median of Almaden Boulevard and Santa Clara Street. There will also be smaller fitness areas placed throughout the loop for smaller groups.The Fitness Hub will have several pieces of equipment that residents and visitors can use and it is right next to a Bay Area BikeShare station. This is a great way to encourage people to be healthy while and removing the financial barrier of a gym membership.The Downtown PBID (property-based improvement district) is also seeking a designer to construct and install a sign for the exercise loop. If you know anyone that may fit the bill for that type of job, contact information is below.The Downtown Property-Based Improvement District (PBID) is seeking to select a designer(s) to construct and install a vertical entry sign/monument for the Exercise Loop in downtown San Jose. The designer(s) will work with the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA) to develop their piece in the Fitness Hub located in the median of Almaden Boulevard and Santa Clara Street. The entry/monument will not only identify the Exercise Loop by name, but must also express branding and wayfinding elements for the Exercise Loop itself.To be considered for this project, refer to the application process and send the information by Friday, August 19, 2016 by 5:30 pm.For more Information, please direct questions to Stephanie Wong, PBID Project Coordinator, swong@sjdowntown.com