MADISON, W.Va. — The City of Madison hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and sign unveiling Thursday, June 30, to mark the official opening of the Robert “Parker” Graffius Memorial Outdoor Fitness Park located at 407 Riverside Drive.

The fitness park, spearheaded by Nicholas Dolan, a Boone County, West Virginia, native and medical student at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, in partnership with the City of Madison, is the first outdoor fitness facility of its kind in southern West Virginia.

“This was an opportunity to make a difference in my hometown,” Dolan said. “Thank you to the Graffius family for allowing me to dedicate this park in honor of their son who was my good friend.”

The park includes 12 weatherproof workout stations and was made possible by contributions from the Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health, Department of Family and Community Health and Men’s Health Organization, all at Marshall University; Boone Memorial Hospital; the City of Madison; and Sen. Ron Stollings, M.D.

More than three dozen local residents, government and healthcare representatives, media and members of the Graffius family attended the ceremony. Photos are available at https://jcesom.smugmug.com/Events/2022-Events/2022-06-30-RPG-Fitness-Park-Open.

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Media Contact: Michele McKnight, Marshall University Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy, 304-691-1713

Date Posted: Thursday, June 30, 2022