Marine Park

Announcing Free Cityparks Seniors Fitness Program Starting April 30

City Parks Foundation is pleased to announce the start of its Spring 2007 CityParks Seniors Fitness program, which will offer free tennis lessons, yoga instruction, and fitness walking for seniors in six parks across New York City.

CityParks Seniors Fitness will begin on April 30, 2007, at Marine Park in Brooklyn; Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx; Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan; and Astoria Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and Roy Wilkins Park in Queens. The program will run through June 22, 2007 (see full schedule below).

David Rivel, Executive Director of City Parks Foundation, said, “We welcome senior New Yorkers to get fit, stay healthy, and have fun together in City parks this spring through our seniors fitness program. Especially in New York, neighborhood parks are excellent places for seniors to exercise and improve their health while meeting new friends and neighbors. Just like City Parks Foundation’s free sports, arts, and education programs for youth, our seniors fitness program aims to keep neighborhood parks a great place for community activity.”

“Parks and City Parks Foundation are proud to support the CityParks Seniors Fitness tennis, walking, and yoga programs,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “We aim to help New Yorkers of all ages, shapes, and sizes discover how New York City’s 29,000 acres of parks can enrich their physical and emotional well-being by providing venues for fitness, peaceful respite, and making new friends.”

All activities take place twice a week at each location. To maximize health benefits, participants are encouraged to register for two or more weekly activities and maintain regular attendance. Seniors interested in registering for CityParks Seniors Fitness can call (718) 760-6999 or get more information at www.CityParksFoundation.org. All equipment and instruction will be offered free of charge.

The health benefits of fitness activities for seniors are well documented. Even in moderate amounts, exercise can help to maintain or lose weight, reduce risk of heart disease and diabetes, and minimize the symptoms of arthritis and osteoporosis.

Dr. Eileen Callahan, Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Medical School, said, “Fitness activity is a great way for seniors to maintain and improve their health. Many health concerns, including diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, osteoporosis, and possibly memory-loss, can be improved with consistent physical activity.”

CPF appreciates the opportunity to work with Namaste New York and NY Walkers Club, organizations that will be providing expert instruction through the CityParks Seniors Fitness program.

The Spring 2007 Schedule for CityParks Seniors Fitness is as follows:

Brooklyn - Marine Park
Tennis W/F 10 AM Tennis Courts Ave S & East 32 St
Yoga M/W 9AM Nature Center Ave U & East 32 St
Walking M/TH 10AM Nature Center Ave U & East 32 St

Bronx - Van Cortlandt Park
Tennis M/W 10 AM Woodlawn Courts Jerome Ave & E 233 St
Yoga M/W 9 AM Woodlawn Courts Jerome Ave & E 233 St
Walking T/TH 9 AM Woodlawn Courts Jerome Ave & E 233 St

Manhattan - Inwood Hill Park
Tennis T/F 10 AM Tennis Courts W. 207 St. & Seaman Ave.
Yoga T/TH 9 AM Tennis Courts W. 207 St. & Seaman Ave.
Walking M/W 9 AM Tennis Courts W. 207 St. & Seaman Ave.

Queens -
Astoria Park
Tennis T/TH 10 AM Tennis Courts 21 St. & Hoyt Ave. S
Yoga T/TH 9 AM Tennis Courts 21 St. & Hoyt Ave. S
Walking M/W 9 AM Tennis Courts 21 St. & Hoyt Ave. S

Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Tennis M/TH 10 AM Park Tennis Courts Meridian Road
Yoga M/W 9 AM Park Tennis Courts Meridian Road
Walking T/TH 9 AM Park Tennis Courts Meridian Road

Roy Wilkins Park
Tennis T/F 10 AM Tennis Courts Baisley Blvd. & 177th St.
Yoga M/W 9 AM Tennis Courts Baisley Blvd. & 177th St.
Walking M/W 10 AM Tennis Courts Baisley Blvd. & 177th St.

Background: From 2003 through 2005, CPF’s Tennis Program for Seniors provided six weeks of free lessons at all skill levels each Fall. Due to the success of this program, CPF launched CityParks Seniors Fitness in 2006, which included and expanded upon the tennis program. The program began in three parks in 2006 and expands to six parks in 2007.

As in all of its programming and activities, City Parks Foundation partners with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to improve neighborhood parks and the communities they serve. This program is generously supported by Zwicker Electric, The Tuttle Fund, the New York City Council, and New York State Senator Martin J. Golden.