Get Fit for Free (or Almost Free)

Local Ways to Get Fit Without Breaking the Bank

by Morgan Cole

whether you’re a seasoneD athlete or just looking to get out anD get moving, there are a host of free activities and recreational offerings available throughout the community to help you work on your fitness.

The City of Pensacola’s Parks and Recreation Department hosts free pilates and yoga classes throughout the year at both the Community Maritime Park and Bayview Community Park. With 93 parks boasting more than 600 acres of parks and open recreation space, there are plenty of low- and no-cost ways to work on your fitness without the commitment of a monthly gym membership or the use of expensive workout equipment.

From yoga classes to pickleball, we have rounded up a handful of free exercise activities and programs right here in our city to help you get fit without breaking the bank.

TAKE A HIKE

Down a Local Nature Trail

Did you know that there are more than 20 miles of hiking trails to explore on the University of West Florida (UWF) campus alone? Located on the westernmost 600 acres of campus, these diverse and challenging hiking and biking trails provide a great way to get out and get moving at your own pace. The Edward Ball Nature Trail is one of the most popular trails on campus. This half-mile boardwalk meanders through Thompson Bayou over a hardwood swamp that is home to mammals, birds, fish and a variety of reptiles, including an occasional American alligator. The trailhead is located just behind Crosby Hall (Bldg.10) and Bldg. 11.

The newly completed Shoreline Wetlands Trail in Gulf Breeze is another great place for a hike. The elevated boardwalk is more than a third of a mile over wetlands to the beach shoreline, traveling through ecosystems abounding with wildlife. The project includes ADA parking and an ADA beach access ramp, and an uncovered nature viewing gazebo with bench seating. The boardwalk is located just across from the dog park at Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze. Take a stroll through downtown’s Historic Pensacola Village, along Palafox Street or down the America’s 1st Settlement Trail to explore our City’s rich history. The 1st Settlement trail takes you through more than 260 years of history and has twenty different stops along the way with more than seventy points of interest. You’ll see sites from as early as 1756, when the Spanish built Fort San Miguel in what’s now downtown Pensacola.

The City of Gulf Breeze has also recently completed a major pedestrian infrastructure project to improve walkability and provide a safe place for people to run, walk, ride or roll. This new, multi-use pathway, better known as ‘the loop,’ stretches along the entire length of Shoreline Drive and Fairpoint Drive. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous and want to take in some beautiful scenery along the way, consider taking a stroll down the new pedestrian pathway, which spans the entire length of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. The 10-foot-wide lighted path includes six scenic overlooks, each with shaded seating areas that provide panoramic views of the bay.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Stir Up Some Friendly Competition on the Court

Visit a local pickleball, disc golf, tennis, basketball or racquetball court with a group of friends or family and stir up some friendly competition. There are numerous municipal facilities and city recreation centers located throughout both Pensacola and Gulf Breeze equipped with a variety of fields, courses, courts and even skateparks. Head to the Fricker Community Resource Center for just $1 and shoot some hoops, work on your skills or participate in a pick-up game of basketball with friends. You can also visit the Gulf Breeze Community Center, UWF or Roger Scott Athletic Complex to play disc golf, tennis, pickleball and more. Bayview Park in Pensacola is also equipped with numerous tennis and basketball courts that are free and open to the community. You can stop in at the new Bayview Outdoor Pursuits Center, which offers equipment rentals for things like kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, canoeing, pedal boats, bikes and more.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

Bike, Skate or Scoot at a Community Slow Ride Event

RECENTER YOURSELF

At Wellness in the Park

Join Bike Pensacola for the most popular bike ride in town—the Slow Ride. Each month the community is invited to come out and explore the quiet, scenic streets of Pensacola’s many historic neighborhoods for a fun and leisurely ride. During Slow Ride events, participants will also learn about bicycle laws, safety and skills to help keep rides safe and enjoyable. There is no charge for the ride and no registration required. Each Slow Ride is about one hour and ten minutes long, at a casual pace. The upcoming March Slow Ride will be co-sponsored by Ciclovia, which brings its “open streets” event to downtown Pensacola Saturday, March 25, so be sure to mark your calendars! Learn more about upcoming Slow Ride events at bikepensacola.com. The City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with local fitness studios to offer free one-hour outdoor yoga and pilates sessions in city parks as a part of its Wellness in the Park Series to help promote wellness, balance and strength. Both programs are led by certified instructors and are open to all ages and levels of experience. All you need to bring is your own mat and any other accessories you like to use. Free Yoga in the Park sessions are held on the first Sunday of each month at 9:30 am at Bayview Park located at 2001 E. Lloyd St. in Pensacola. Class instruction is presented by Breathe Yoga and Wellness Center. Free Pilates in the Park sessions are held on the third Sunday of each month at 10:30 am at the Community Maritime Park in front of the amphitheater stage located at 301 W. Main St. in Pensacola. Class instruction is presented by Pure Pilates. Check out the full calendar of Wellness in the Park sessions for 2023 at cityofpensacola.com.

HOP ON THE CIRCUIT

Visit the LeaP Trail

Not just for fitness junkies, LeaP Trail is an inclusive activity space that improves the quality of life for our community. It’s a place for athletes, family fun and people of leisure. LeaP Trail is used by runners, joggers, skateboarders, dog walkers and bicyclists— couples, families, children and the elderly. The trail consists of three components. The track begins just near the Pensacola International Airport and ends on Jerry L. Maygarden Road in Pensacola. The LeaP Trail features the Baptist Healthcare Workout Circuit with six workout stations at various intervals along the trail to provide a full body workout. The trail consists of three components—The Innisfree Hotels Track, The Playground and The Baptist Health Care Workout Circuit.

The LeaP Class of 2013 began planning the trail in late 2012 and construction was complete by May 2013. Explore the amenities the trail has to offer then Get Out & Play at the LeaP Trail!

Get your workout on at one of three LeaP Fitness Courts located at Bayview Park, Community Maritime Park and Legion Field in Pensacola. The Fitness Courts are an outdoor bodyweight circuit training system designed for adults of all ages and abilities. There are no memberships, no fees and the view is incredible.

The Greater Pensacola Chamber Foundation’s Leadership Pensacola (LeaP) Class of 2018 chose to pursue LeaP into Fitness, a project in partnership with the City of Pensacola and the National Fitness Campaign (NFC), to provide fitness courts to the Pensacola area as their annual class project.Pensacola is now home to three National Fitness Campaign (NFC) Fitness Courts™ which offer a free, outdoor, bodyweight fitness program designed for adults of all ages and fitness abilities. The first of three courts was opened to the community on April 27, 2018 at the Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park. Two additional courts were installed at Bayview Park and Legion Field in August of 2018.

Download the free Fitness Court app to help you get the most out of your Fitness Court workout. For more information on the LeaP Fitness Courts, visit cityofpensacola.com/2877/LeaP-Into-Fitness-Courts.