Kick off spring with a Free workout in the parks!
Mayor Johnson has proclaimed May 2025, MAY IN MOTION IN CHICAGO, urging all Chicagoans to participate in at least 150 minutes of movement per week in May & onward.
Each Wednesday during the month of May you are invite to join us at one of our 37 free Pop-Up classes (45-minutes long) offered at 14 unique park spaces. This provides an opportunity for Chicagoans to take small steps towards making every minute count in your journey towards an active lifestyle and wellbeing. Plus, we are offering FREE access to our fitness centers, May 1-11.
This year our partner High Society will be teaching the classes. Park District wellness staff will be on hand to assist and answer any question about park wellness programs.
Join us this for May in Motion 2025.
FREE access to Fitness Centers, May 1-11
View Fitness Center locations Register in advance or in-person at the park.
City & Sister Agency Employees - FREE Fitness Center Access, May 1-31
View Fitness CENTER LOCATIONS City and sister agency employees have free access to fitness centers throughout the month of May. To participate, register in-person at a park by providing an employee photo ID, or printed or digital copy of recent pay stub and a photo ID.
Keep active at one of many wellness-related classes offered at parks throughout the year.
Go Runs – Free 1 mile and 5k Runs: 'Go Run Chicago is a series of free organized Saturday morning community runs (1-mile or 5k) in Chicago’s parks that are open to everyone. To view a full schedule and register for a
Tennis Classes: May is also National Tennis Month! As a partner of the ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ, the United States Tennis Association (¿ì²¥ÊÓƵTA) and the District have planned tennis activities throughout May for park patrons to enjoy at local parks. Events include heart-pumping fun adult cardio tennis classes, kids play days and red ball tennis, a modified fun tennis activity. Events range from free to $10.
Health Equity in the Parks
Parks and recreation are vital to community health, and the Park District plays an integral role in promoting health and wellness by providing Chicagoans with equitable access to resources to allow them to live healthy lifestyles, regardless of identity, income, or neighborhood. We are focusing our efforts into our three new health pillars, which include:
- Promoting Community Wellbeing – connecting community members, including Park District employees, to essential programs and resources that advance wellbeing, improve health outcomes, and enhance quality of life.
- Supporting Active Living Through Parks – providing access to spaces to allow Chicagoans to lead active lifestyles.
- Ensuring a Healthy Food Environment – supporting access to healthy food options for those who are food insecure; increasing nutrition education to improve diet quality and reduce chronic disease risk.
Throughout all of our efforts, we will promote health equity in all policies - ensuring health and wellness policies are accessible, achievable, and sustainable.
Chicago Moves Day Video Archive
The following videos were part of the 2020 & 2021 Chicago Moves Day (May) and Half Way to Moves Day (November) virtual events. A variety of class types are included for all ages and abilities. We hope these videos provide the opportunity to get moving, whenever and wherever works best for you.
- Kids Fitness
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Kids Fitness (25:17 minutes)
Brandon Lyles, Community Recreation - Wellness
Kids Yoga (2:22 minutes)
Lead by: Andrea Lavessaur, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Community Recreation - Wellness Division
Like this class? - Senior Fitness
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Senior Fitness (18:01)
Lead by: Michael Johnson
Senior Chair Fitness (25:19)
Lead by: Louis Battle
Pilates (38:53 minutes)
Lead by: Louis Battle, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ, Ogden Park
Like this class? - Special Recreation Fitness
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Special Recreation - Chair Aerobics (14:24 minutes)
Special Recreation Staff, Community Recreation​â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹
- Aquatics Workout - Dry Land
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Dry Land Aquatic Workout (20:34 minutes)
Adam Rivera, Community Recreation - Aquatics​â¶Ä‹
High Intensity Dry Land Workout (15:01)
Lead by: Joseph Mercado, Michael Trice & Saul Gonzales
Swim Team Dry Land Workout (18:11)
Lead by: Coach Allison, Coach Alex & Coach Adam - Boot Camp
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Boot Camp (19:53)
Lead by: D’jon Meek - Circuit Training
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Circuit Training (19:56 minutes)
Becca Schatz, Community Recreation - Wellness​â¶Ä‹
Body Weight Circuit Training (19:53)
Lead by: Julian Nunnally
Lower Body Burn Out (8:42)
Lead by: Rebecca Schatz - Dance
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Dance Instruction (10:02)
Lead by: Brazhal Brewer - Kickboxing
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Kickboxing (7:57)
Lead by: Liz Clark – Wood & Alex Kerber - Pilates
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Pilates (30:42)
Lead by: Meghan O'Boyle - Sports Skills, Drills & Conditioning
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Flag Football Skills & Drills (12:49)
Lead by: Marlenni Laureano & Rebecca Regalado
Boxing Instruction (7:15)
Lead by: Thomas Hayes
Gymnastics Full Body Stretch (12:53 minutes)
Lead by: Nicholas Persino, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Community Recreation - Gymnastics Division
Like this class?
Tennis for Starters (4:58 minutes)
Lead by: Leticia Arriaga, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ, Lincoln Park Cultural Center
Like this class?
Boxing Instruction (7:15)
Lead by: Thomas Hayes
Gymnastics Full Body Stretch (12:53 minutes)
Lead by: Nicholas Persino, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Community Recreation - Gymnastics Division
Like this class? - Yoga
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Yoga (17:17 minutes)
Marissa Losiak, Community Recreation
Yoga (46:35)
Lead by: Andrea Levasseur
Yoga: Vinyasa Flow (23:50)
Lead by: Brandon Lyles
Chair Yoga (3:50)
Lead by: Tamika Jones
Yoga (4:46 minutes)
Lead by: Monique Crawley, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ, Fosco & Dvorak Parks
Like this class? - Zumba
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Zumba (13:21 minutes)
Martha Frausto, Community Recreation
Zumba (27:38)
Lead by: Marth Frausto
Zumba (26:10 minutes)
Lead by: Martha Frausto, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ, Piotrowski & Vittum Parks
Like this class?
Tone, Stretch & Balance (2:19 minutes)
Lead by: Michael Johnson, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ, Avalon & Jesse Owens Parks
Like this class?
Chair Exercises (8:37 minutes)
Lead by: Liz Clark-Wood & Alex Kerber, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Community Recreation - Special Olympics Division
Like this class?
HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) (24:56 minutes)
Lead by: Brandon Lyles, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Community Recreation - Wellness Division
Like this class?
"Move Your Way" Physical Activity Teen Challenge (:50 seconds)
Lead by: Colleen Lammel-Harmon, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Community Recreation
Made to Play Nike Teen Fitness Series (42:30 minutes)
Made to Play Nike Teen Fitness Series (30:53 minutes)
Made to Play Nike Teen Fitness Series (35:48 minutes)
Made to Play Nike Teen Fitness Series (39:13 minutes)
Chicago Moves Day is part of Move Your WaySM
The ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ was selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 2020 Move Your WaySM campaign. Move Your WaySM was created to promote the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Learn more.