Free Senior Exercise Programs Offered At 16 City Parks This Fall

NEW YORK, NY — This fall 16 parks spread out among New York City's five boroughs will hold free six-week exercise courses for senior citizens, the City Parks Foundation announced.

Classes such as tennis, yoga and fitness walking will be offered from Sept. 18 through Oct. 27, according to the foundation. Seniors are encourage to sign up for the classes online, but drop-ins are also welcome. New Yorkers that are at least 60 years old are eligible to participate in the classes.

"Exercise is important at all ages, but it is particularly important for seniors who typically lead more sedentary lifestyles," Mike Silverman, the director of sports at City Parks Foundation, said in a statement.

"We’ve found that exercising even just once a week helps participants feel better mentally and emotionally. The program is a great opportunity for seniors to be social and meet new people in their neighborhoods, while getting outside and having some fun."

Since the City Parks Foundation began its senior fitness program in 2006 more than 10,000 New Yorkers have taken advantage of the free exercise classes. Most classes are offered once or twice per week during the six-week program.

Here's a schedule for City Parks Foundation's fall 2017 seniors fitness program:

QUEENS

Astoria Park: Tennis - Mondays/Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. - Tennis Courts 21st Street and Hoyt Avenue.

Cunningham Park: Tennis - Tuesdays/Thursdays from 9-11 a.m. - Tennis Courts Union Turnpike and 193rd Street.

Yoga - Tuesdays/Thursdays at 10 a.m. - Tennis Courts Union Turnpike & 193rd Street.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park: Tennis - Mondays/Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. - Tennis Courts Meridian Road.

Roy Wilkins Park: Tennis - Tuesdays/Thursdays at 10 a.m. - Tennis Courts Baisley Boulevard and 177th Street.

Yoga - Tuesdays/Thursdays at 9 a.m. - Tennis Courts Baisley Boulevard and 177th Street.

BRONX

Pelham Bay Park: Tennis - Mondays/Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m. - Middletown Road and Stadium Avenue.

Yoga - Tuesdays/Thursdays at 9 a.m. - Middletown Road and Stadium Avenue.

Soundview Park: Walking - Mondays/Wednesdays at 9 a.m. - Lafayette Avenue between Boynton and Colgate avenues.

Yoga - Mondays/Wednesdays at 10 a.m. - Lafayette Avenue between Boynton and Colgate avenues.

Van Cortlandt Park: Walking - Tuesdays/Thursdays at 9 a.m. - Woodlawn Tennis Courts Jerome Avenue and East 233rd Street.

Yoga - Mondays/Wednesdays at 9 a.m. - Woodlawn Tennis Courts Jerome Avenue and East 233rd Street.

MANHATTAN

Carl Schurz Park: Walking - Mondays/Friday at 9 a.m. - East 86th Street and East End Avenue .

Yoga - Tuesdays/Thursdays at 9 a.m. - East 86th Street and East End Avenue.

Central Park: Tennis - Fridays from 1-3 p.m. - Tennis Courts 93rd Street near West Drive.

Inwood Hill Park: Tennis - Tuesdays/Thursdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. - Tennis Courts West 207th Street and Seaman Avenue.

Yoga - Mondays/Wednesdays at 11 a.m. - Tennis Courts West 207th Street and Seaman Avenue.

Thomas Jefferson Park: Yoga - Tuesdays/Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. - East 112th Street and First Avenue.

BROOKLYN

Kaiser Park: Tennis - Tuesdays/Thursdays at 11 a.m. - Tennis Courts Neptune and Bayview avenues.

Marine Park: Yoga - Mondays/Wednesdays at 9 a.m. - Nature Center Avenue U and East 32nd Street.

South Oxford Park: Yoga - Monday/Wednesday at 11 a.m. - South Oxford Street and Atlantic Avenue.

STATEN ISLAND

Greenbelt Park: Tennis - Mondays/Fridays from 12-2 p.m. - Brielle Avenue between Rockland and Wolcott avenues.

Faber Park: Yoga - Tuesdays/Thursdays at 10 a.m. - Richmond Terrace and Faber Street.

Photo by Jesse Davis via Flickr/Creative Commons