Pay Bill
For class cancellations & updates, please be sure to follow the YMCA on Facebook:
INDEPENDENT HEALTH AND THE YMCA PRESENT
Fitness in the Parks 2024
Independent Health and the YMCA are celebrating 13 years of Fitness in the Parks! Join us June 3 through August 31 for more than 500 FREE outdoor fitness classes at parks across Western New York, led by certified YMCA instructors. All ages and skill levels are welcome to join. Parking is always free and registration is never required; just show up at the scheduled time.
Now, you never have to trade good weather for a workout again!
Here’s what to expect for 2024:
44
Outdoor classes
Offered each week all summer long at a park near you.
26
Park locations
Including longtime favorites like Delaware Park, Outer Harbor, and Chestnut Ridge Park.
15
Class Styles
Featuring Yoga, Pilates, Zumba® and more!
Schedule
No classes July 4 in celebration of Independence Day. See notes for other blackout dates.
Bassett Park
Classes take place by the bandstand
Tai Chi: Tue, 6 p.m.
Yoga: Fri, 6 p.m.
Garrison Park
Classes take place near corner of Garrison and Park Drive
Zumba®: Wed, 5:30 p.m.
Yoga: Wed, 6:15 p.m.
University at Buffalo South Lake Village Apartments
Class takes place near the Community Center patio
Yoga: Tue, 9:15 a.m.
Bidwell Park
Class takes place near Elmwood, across from farmer’s market
PiYo: Sat, 10:15 a.m.
Buffalo RiverWorks
Class takes place on the Independent Health Sport Court
Circuit Training: Mon, 5:30 p.m.
Delaware Park
Class takes place near the back side of the Rose Garden
Yoga: Sun, 10 a.m.
Yoga: Wed, 6 p.m.
Larkin Square
Classes take place near the pickleball courts
Zumba®: Mon, 5:30 p.m.
Zumba®: Sat, 9:30 a.m.
Outer Harbor (Terminal B)
Class takes place on the sound stage lawn (behind Lakeside Bike Park)
Yoga: Tue & Thu, 6 p.m. (no class 7/4, 7/9, 7/11, 7/18, 8/1, 8/6)
Cheektowaga Town Park
Classes located between shelters 12 & 13 (park behind library)
Yoga: Tue & Thu, 10 a.m. (no class on 7/4)
Losson Park
Classes take place in the small parking lot before the playground
Zumba®: Tue, 9:30 a.m.
Cardio Dance: Thu, 9:30 a.m. (no class on 7/4)
Clarence Town Park (Main Street Park)
Class takes place next to the bandshell
Pilates: Fri, 10 a.m.
Royalton Ravine Park
Class takes place near the pond
Yoga/Pilates/Fusion: Tue, 6 p.m.
Veteran's Park
Classes take place near the Grand Island Memorial Library parking lot (near the big yellow and white tent)
Yoga: Mon, 6 p.m.
Zumba®: Fri, 10:15 a.m. (no class 7/5)
Ellery Town Park
Class takes place near the tennis courts
Pound®: Thu, 5 p.m. (no class 7/4)
Hartley Park (Lakewood Beach)
Classes take place near the gazebo and tennis courts
Pound®: Tue, 5 p.m.
Lucille Ball Memorial Park
(Celoron Park)
Class meets on the walking path
Walk to Better Health: Tue & Thu, 10:30 a.m. (no class 6/4, 6/6, 7/4)
Class takes place near the bandshell
Strength & Movement: Wed, 11 a.m. (no class on 6/5)
Westwood Park
Classes take place next to the next to the Lancaster/Depew Baseball facility off Pavement Road
Core & More: Mon, 6 p.m
Circuit Training: Wed, 6 p.m.
Academy Park
Class takes place next to the bandshell (across from Syro’s restaurant)
Yoga: Sun, 10 a.m. (no class 6/30, 7/14, 7/28)
Day Road Park
Classes take place near the gazebo
Yoga: Mon, 10 a.m.
Beginners Qigong: Tue, 6:30 p.m.
Zumba®: Thu, 5:45 p.m. (no class 7/4)
Yoga: Thu, 6:30 p.m. (no class 7/4)
Goehle Marina
Classes located near Cold Springs Road North and Lake Avenue South
Pilates: Thu, 9:30 a.m.
Meditation: Thu, 10:30 a.m. (no class 7/4)
Barre: Sunday, 10 a.m.
Outwater Park
Class takes place between the overlook and blue water tank
Yoga: Mon, 7 p.m.
Pendleton Park
Class takes place near the playground (behind Town Hall)
Yoga: Fri, 10 a.m.
LaSalle Waterfront Park
Class takes place on the waterfront near Buffalo Avenue
Cardio Dance: Fri, 5:30 p.m.
Chestnut Ridge Park
Class takes place near shelter #15 off Newton Road
Yoga: Tue, 6 p.m.
Circuit Training: Thu, 6 p.m. (no class 7/4)
Cazenovia Park
Class is located in front of the Crotty Casino building
Circuit Training: Wed, 5:30 p.m.
Ellicott Creek
Classes take place by the outdoor fitness center
Core & More: Mon, 6 p.m.
Yoga: Thu, 6 p.m. (no class 7/4)
Class Types
Western New Yorkers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to participate in our FREE outdoor fitness classes, led by YMCA certified instructors. It is recommended that you check with your physician before embarking on any type of fitness program.
Barre
Fusing some of the elements of ballet, Pilates, and yoga. Freestyle Barre is guaranteed to tone in a low impact, high-intensity setting. Focus is centered on postural strength and alignment along with upper and lower body strength.
Beginners Qigong
This class focuses on an ancient Chinese system of postures, exercises, breathing techniques and meditations. Qigong is a gentle form of exercise that can help improve overall health and well-being.
Cardio Dance
Simple yet challenging choreography set to music. Cardio dance will enhance cardiovascular endurance, muscle tone, flexibility and coordination.
Circuit Training
A combination of low impact and/or high impact aerobics training, bodyweight strength training, and core work makes this class a total body workout. Exercises can be tailored to a variety of levels for all to join.
Core & More
This progressive exercise program combines relaxation, flexibility and strengthening exercises to build strength and stamina in core areas, keeping you strong for life.
Meditation
Relax, unwind and discover your mind. Enjoy guided journeys that open the heart, support healing of the whole person and free the spirit. Benefits of meditation include increased concentration, lowered blood pressure and improved immune system. Please bring your own mat.
Pilates
Strengthen the body’s core muscles, including the abdominals and lower back, with this method of body conditioning. You’ll tone your body and increase flexibility. Please bring your own mat.
PiYo
This class combines the muscle-sculpting, core-firming benefit of Pilates with the strength and flexibility of yoga. Please bring your own mat.
Pound®
This is a full-body cardio jam session, combining light resistance with constant simulated drumming. The workout fuses cardio, Pilates, strength movements, plyometric, and isometric poses. Pound® utilizes continual upper body motion using lightly weighted exercise drumsticks.
Strength & Movement
Get a little bit of everything in this “15/30/15” class – a 15-minute warm-up followed by 30 minutes of bodyweight strength and movement (targeting areas like glutes, abs, and core, which can be great for lower back health) and a 15-minute cool-down.
Tai Chi
Gentle movements of the body through poses, as well as static postures with mental images and a focus on breathing.
Walk to Better Health
Walk as a group while you walk at your own pace. Enjoy a short 5-minute warm-up followed by 30-40 minutes of light to brisk walking, then wind down with some light bodyweight strength training and stretching for the last 10-15 minutes.
Yoga
Enjoy gentle, effective postures that promote stretching, strengthening and relaxation. Benefits include increased blood circulation, improved mental awareness, strengthened muscles and reduced stress! Please bring your own mat.
Yoga / Pilates / Fusion
This class strengthens the body’s core muscles, including the abdominals and the lower back, and increases flexibility. Please bring your own mat.
Zumba®
Are you ready to party yourself into shape? Forget the workout – just lose yourself in the music and feel yourself getting physically fit with the original dance-fitness party! Zumba® classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Independent Health and the YMCA recommend the following safety precautions to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all:
- Masks are recommended for those who are not vaccinated or at high risk for severe illness.
- Social distancing is encouraged (a minimum of six feet).
- Please DO NOT participate if feeling ill.
All ages and abilities are encouraged to participate in Fitness in the Parks! It is recommended that you check with your physician before embarking on any type of fitness program. Also, some classes may be more age-appropriate than others. Please view the class descriptions for any age restrictions.
Classes will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Day-of cancellations will be listed on at least one (if not all) of the following places:
Buffalo-Niagara
Jamestown
No sign-up or registration is required! Just show up at the scheduled times.
Class offerings change each year. The 2024 downloadable schedule is available here.
All classes are taught by certified YMCA instructors.
At Independent Health, we believe a healthy community is something that everyone can benefit from. That’s why all Fitness in the Parks classes are FREE.