ZELIENOPLE — Zachary Baker of Harmony has one goal in mind for this Sunday — to help the park he loves.

Zachary, 12, a student at St. Gregory Catholic School, decided to create an athletic contest to raise money for the Zelienople Community Park in the Ultimate Zelie Challenge.

The contest at the park will feature obstacle courses that draw influence from a favorite TV show of Zachary’s, “American Ninja Warrior.”

“I watch it every time it’s on,” Zachary said.

The Ultimate Zelie Challenge is designed to test strength, speed, agility and balance at different levels. Other smaller, family friendly activities also will be available.

This includes a rock climbing wall, push-up and sit-up contests and monkey bars.

There will be different age groups for children. Top finishers will receive trophies, and other winners will receive medals and ribbons.

Zachary said he first thought of the obstacle course last year.

“When I first started watching ‘American Ninja Warrior’ last year, I thought ‘I might be able to do that’ and have a smaller version for kids,” Zachary said.

“I thought maybe if I made some of my own courses at my playground, that would give them the opportunity to try and start training for the event if they tried to do it when they’re older.”

From there, he went to the parks board to present his idea, and the board agreed to let him do it.

His mother, Joella Baker, supports her son’s outreach to the community.

“He sets big goals and just to see him follow through is really exciting for all of us,” she said.

Baker, a frequent marathon runner and coach, was diagnosed with lupus in 2001. Before that, she ran in marathons, triathlons and other running races in high school and after graduation.

She started training again and ran the Pittsburgh Marathon in 2002, finishing in 4 hours, 34 minutes. Since then, she has run in other races.

She also founded Get Fit Families to help people through exercise and nutrition.

Baker said both she and her husband, Scott, are proud of their son’s outreach.

“He’s a really smart kid and very determined,” she said.

Zachary, who is a frequent runner and races in triathlons along with helping his mother, said he frequents the park once every weekday.

“They (his parents) think it’s awesome I’m trying to put on my own event, and they’re helping me in any way they can,” Zachary said.

Registration for the Ultimate Zelie Challenge will open at 11 a.m. Sunday and the event will start at noon in the park.

Registration also can be done online at

www.getfitfamilies.com, calling Zachary at 724-321-4265 or e-mailing him at his mother’s e-mail, joella@zoominternet.net.Zachary hopes to get at least 100 to 150 participants for the challenge. All proceeds will go to building a new playground for the park.This summer Zachary is interning at the Pittsburgh Zoo, doing a research project on Komodo dragons. He wants to be a zookeeper eventually.