Free Fitness Finds Its Stride As Parkrun Launches in Brooklyn
From London to New York, Parkrun is proving that fitness movements don’t have to require fees or a membership
In a city where boutique fitness classes can run north of $40, walkers and runners showed up this past weekend for something very different: a free community 5K at Brooklyn Bridge Park hosted by Parkrun, marking the city’s first-ever Parkrun, which saw 559 participants and 23 volunteers.
The weekly event, born in Bushy Park, London, in 2004, is part of an international well-being initiative now active in more than 2,600 locations in 23 countries. In the U.S., the movement began in Michigan in 2012 and has since spread to 91 weekly events across the country.
“It was great to have finally launched in Brooklyn Bridge Park,” Parkrun’s Brooklyn Bridge event director Ben Roach said. “I was so pleased to welcome local residents as well as many tourists visiting NYC. I’m looking forward to our second week next week, and we encourage locals to come and check us out.”
Like the rise of urban run clubs and pop-up fitness collectives, Parkrun is diving into real-world connection. Free to join and open to all ages and abilities, the event kicks off every Saturday at 8 a.m. sharp from Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. After registering once online and printing a personal barcode, participants can drop into any Parkrun event worldwide.According to Parkrun, there is no time limit and no one finishes last, reinforcing its focus on inclusion over competition.
“I’m thrilled to see New York City host its very first Parkrun today,” Parkrun North America territory manager Euan Bowman said. “It was inspiring to watch people of all abilities walk, jog, run and volunteer. This is just the beginning, and it’s really exciting to see how this community develops. Thanks to the Brooklyn Bridge parkrun volunteers and our presenting partner in the USA, Brooks Running, who help keep Parkruns free, for everyone, forever.”
The launch comes as even big-name fitness players are also leaning into in-person experiences. Peloton, long synonymous with at-home fitness, debuted its first Peloton Run Club earlier this summer in New York City with a free 5K along the Hudson River Greenway. Its new Run Club will continue monthly out of its Manhattan studio.
Beyond running, Ladder, the Austin-based strength training app that has raised more than $100 million, has partnered with Diplo’s Run Club on an eight-city tour blending music, movement and strength. The festival-style activation, which requires a fee, features a mobile gym, carnival challenges and Ladder-led workouts, with stops planned in San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, Miami, and Phoenix through early 2026.