wellness
Little Rock Launches Free July Fitness Events Across Parks, Trails
Little Rock residents can join no-cost group workouts at parks and trails throughout July.
How we reported this
Free fitness sessions start this week at two central Little Rock sites and continue through the end of July.
City wellness programs expanded after last year's heat wave kept many residents indoors. Organizers added extra morning slots to match typical July temperatures that climb past 90 degrees by noon. The shift aligns with a local push to cut chronic disease rates reported at 34 percent for adults in Pulaski County.
Little Rock Parks and Recreation runs the sessions at Riverfront Park along the Arkansas River and at Allsopp Park in the Hillcrest neighborhood. Both locations offer shaded paths and water stations. Volunteers from the nonprofit Move Little Rock lead the groups.
July schedule details
Yoga meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 a.m. near the Junction Bridge entrance to Riverfront Park. A walking group gathers at Allsopp Park on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 a.m., starting from the pavilion on North Palm Street. All events remain open to any adult with no registration required. Equipment such as mats stays on site.
Local health data shows group exercise participants in similar Arkansas programs increased activity levels by 22 percent over six months, according to a 2025 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences report. July events add 12 total sessions across the two parks.
How to join
Residents should arrive 10 minutes early and bring water. Sessions last 45 minutes. Those with medical conditions can check with a doctor at the UAMS family clinic on South Cedar Street before starting. Updated times appear on the city parks website each Sunday evening.