Brooklyn Park Offers Walking Groups in City Parks

Since June, the Brooklyn Park Walking Group has met up every other week, taking strides together.

Organizer Cassidy Wester, an Aquatics and Fitness Specialist with the city, leads the group activity that’s more than just a walk in the park.

“Typically, we do about an hour so 9:30-10:30 with the option to extend if folks want to,” said Wester. “Typically ends up being around two, two and a half miles total, but like what I said, we can always extend. I think the farthest we have gone is four miles.”

Walking Group at Central Park in Brooklyn Park.

Twenty people have signed up to participate in the walks. More are welcome to join.

“We have a lot of returning participants that come out and join us each week,” said Wester. “But then a lot of new faces that also show up week to week, so it’s been a really awesome experience all around.”

You’ll find walkers throughout the city checking out different trails and parks.

 “That was the original goal of our program we just wanted to get people into our spaces, into our beautiful parks and trails in the summertime,” said Wester. “Get outside, promoting health and wellbeing.”

Walker Deb Perigan, who’s lived in Brooklyn Park for 32 years, says that’s one of the reasons she joined.

“It was my chance to find places to walk in the summer and see parks that I didn’t even know exist,” she said.

Getting Fit, Making Friends

It’s not just parks Yerigan has become better acquainted with but also people.

“It feels good because I’ve done my workouts, got some socializing in,” she said.

“Our program is bi-weekly, but we found that a lot of our participants like to meet up on our off weeks and do their own walking again, so it’s been really special” said Wester.

The walking program is scheduled to run til the end of October, but might go longer.

“I’m thinking our group as long as there is no snow or ice on the ground, we’ll probably be walking, ” said Wester.

If you’d like to pull on your sneakers and join the group, click HERE.   

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