Free park workouts return

Huntsville is bringing back its free Fitness in the Park series on Saturdays in May and June, starting May 2 with a dance fitness class in Big Spring Park West. (huntsvilleal.gov) The 2026 series runs from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. each Saturday, and city officials said every session will feature a different workout and instructor. The May 2 opener will be followed by the Mayor’s Bike Ride. (huntsvilleal.gov) Healthy Huntsville and Huntsville Parks and Recreation are running the program, and the city said the classes are open to anyone age 16 or older. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. (huntsvilleal.gov) This year’s schedule spreads classes across multiple parks and facilities instead of keeping every session in one spot. The city listed stops at Big Spring Park West, Sandra Moon Community Complex, The Park at Hays Farm, Butler Green, John Hunt Park and Legacy Park. (huntsvilleal.gov) The lineup includes Kardio Dance Fitness on May 2, Pilates and Balance Fusion on May 9, Pure Barre on May 16, Zumba on May 23 and a Fitness Court workout on May 30. June sessions include yoga on June 6 and a Mommy and Me strength class on June 13. (huntsvilleal.gov) The program sits inside Huntsville’s broader Healthy Huntsville campaign, which the city says offers free fitness and nutrition programming year-round. The initiative is led by Mayor Tommy Battle and the Parks and Recreation Department with support from Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville City Schools, HudsonAlpha and the Huntsville-Madison County Health Department. (huntsvilleal.gov) On its Healthy Huntsville page, the city says Alabama’s adult obesity rate reached 39.9% in 2021, citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention metrics. The same page says the statewide rate was the third highest in the country behind West Virginia and Kentucky. (huntsvilleal.gov) City officials have framed the workout series as both a fitness program and a way to draw residents into public spaces across Huntsville. Parks and Recreation Director James Gossett said the sessions let people “explore new spaces, stay active and experience all the ways our parks support healthy, active lifestyles.” (huntsvilleal.gov) The city said weather updates will be posted on the Huntsville Parks and Recreation Facebook page. For now, the calendar points to eight straight Saturday mornings of free workouts before the series wraps in June. (huntsvilleal.gov)