'Build the community': Nebraska Parkour opens gym off 84th and West Center
"We wanted to provide access in the city to North O and South O, and be able to reach those communities that are lower income and people of color," owner Mitchell Tillwick said.
"We wanted to provide access in the city to North O and South O, and be able to reach those communities that are lower income and people of color," owner Mitchell Tillwick said.
"We wanted to provide access in the city to North O and South O, and be able to reach those communities that are lower income and people of color," owner Mitchell Tillwick said.
Nebraska Parkour owner Mitchell Tillwick watched beginners and novices zip from point a to point b during his gym's grand opening Saturday.
The former Bennington High School wrestler said he was driving home from practice and thought about free running. He Googled a group, and his enthusiasm took off.
"The goal of the gym is to build the community," Tillwick said. "About three years ago it came to a point in time where the community either died out, or someone had to take it on."
Tillwick took on a commitment to grow the sport after he says another gym shrank. Members had left and winters hit hard.
The gym off 84th and West Center is the first of its kind, according to Tillwick, because its space is fully dedicated to the sport. Other gyms share space with dancers and gymnasts, some of whom were bouncing around parkour boxes and mats Saturday.
"It's very free especially since we were gymnasts before and all these flips and stuff we did were very strict and had to be a certain way," said Daniel Medina Hernandez, a student at the gym with two friends.
These students and coaches and the owner say the gym is safe.
"They spot you, there's mats there's safety involved," student Nick Isaacson said.
The owner says coaches progress students from easy moves to more difficult movements. Spaced mats offer a soft landing. Tillwick also hopes equity propels parkour.
"We chose this facility specifically because we wanted to provide access in the city to North O and South O, and be able to reach those communities that are lower income and people of color," Tillwick said.
Sign up for classes or become a coach by visiting Nebraska Parkour's website.