About the ParkFit Project

About the ParkFit Project

About two summers ago, as I became interested in body-weight/calisthenic fitness I found that New York City lacks an accurate list of its park-based fitness inventory. Performing cursory web searches in the hope of finding a new pull up bar or set of parallel bars may bring you an article here or there about a particular spot, but as of the present moment there is no place to find a comprehensive source compilation of locations.

Through my readings, wanderings and conversations I have begun to find a number of these sites throughout the city and will be documenting them through this blog. My goal is to primarily document park-based workout spots and fitness equipment. All locations will be added as pins to the Google Map contained on the site. I will also add my knowledge of running tracks and other outdoor workout spots that I deem relevant. Information garnered from assorted websites may be used to further provide information to my readers.

While I hope that at some point this site will host a comprehensive review of all outdoor fitness equipment in the city, at the present time the information contained herein will be limited to my personal knowledge which admittedly contains a strict geographic bias to Manhattan. I most certainly welcome all emails and will happily post new verifiable information as it is provided to me.

To health, fitness and pushing limits,

- The Skyhopper








Showing posts with label rubber matting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rubber matting. Show all posts

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Tompkins Square Park

Tompkins Square Park in Alphabet City neighborhood near the East Village is possibly New York City's most well known body weight fitness area. The park also has quite a history of its own and bears reading about especially for those fans of social justice and NYC history.

The workout area itself can be found on the north east corner of the park off of East 10th Street and Avenue B.

Popularized by fitness personality Al Kavaldo the park is home to many of NYC's bar athletes. Many of his YouTube videos and tutorials use this park in order to demonstrate the moves. The facility itself appears to be somewhat older and bears many hallmarks of a children's playground....for adults. Do be on the look out for kids looking to commandeer the space, and please be patient  with the little humans.

The facility itself is designed in a monkey bar style  with attached pull up bars, an arched horizontal ladder and a myriad of bars and poles designed to test your imagination as much as your fitness abilities. There is also a set of parallel bars off to the side.

As you may be able to discern from the pictures, the paint is fading on some of the equipment and is in need of a paint job. The park also features rubber matting designed to soften one's landings however it also appears to be wearing and in need of repair. 

Arched horizontal ladder

Parallel Bars