Columbus Recreation Parks Launches Dozens Weekly Group Fitness Classes

Columbus Recreation and Parks added 18 new group exercise slots across its facilities this July, bringing the weekly total to 62 classes open to residents.

The timing lines up with city budget documents showing a 14 percent rise in requests for low-cost recreation programs since January. Residents cite the $25 monthly unlimited pass as one reason they skip commercial gyms that charge three times that amount.

Two sites anchor the schedule. The Linden Recreation Center at 1250 Cleveland Avenue offers morning cycling and evening strength circuits five days a week. The Hilltop Family Center on 2255 Mound Street runs chair yoga and Zumba on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Both locations sit inside neighborhoods where households earn below the city median, according to 2025 census tract data.

Current schedule and costs

City records list 24 yoga classes, 15 strength sessions and 12 dance-based workouts running through Labor Day. Drop-in fees start at four dollars for seniors and eight dollars for adults. The $25 monthly pass covers every class at every site and requires only a photo ID at the front desk. Last fiscal year the department logged 14,872 check-ins for group fitness, up from 11,940 the year before.

Registration and next steps

Residents can sign up at the front desk of any participating center or through the department website before arriving. New participants receive a one-page schedule and a wristband that tracks attendance for the pass. Those unsure which class fits can attend a free 15-minute orientation held each Monday at 10 a.m. at the Linden site. City staff recommend calling 614-645-3300 to confirm space before the first visit.