Eagan’s Central Park has a new custom-designed obstacle course that encourages outdoor natural play and fitness.

Core Valley is a series of large logs placed at angles and at varied heights. It includes uneven parallel bars, stumps and pull-ups bars. The city says it is the first of its kind in the state.

The course was developed by Marshall Grange, manager of the city’s community center, and built and installed by Eagan’s fitness and parks maintenance staff.

Grange said he was inspired in part from the popularity of mud runs and other obstacle-course races.

“This is fun way to put those things into daily training,” he said, adding that the community center can use the course for outdoor programming.

Core Valley was installed across from the park’s playground so parents can work out while their children play nearby, he said. But the course has proven to be popular with kids, as well.

“Kids love to explore,” he said.

The city’s police officers, firefighters and city staff will run the course at a grand opening celebration set for 6 p.m. Wednesday. The city’s weekly Market Fest will also be held nearby in the park from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Nick Ferraro can be reached at 651-228-2173. Follow him at twitter.com/NFerraroPiPress.