‘Make Atlanta Your Own Gym’ Encourages City’s Residents to Try Outdoor Fitness

The project leverages community and city resources to encourage locals to make Atlanta’s robust network of trails, parks and recreational cites

Atlanta is making fitness a core mission in a new initiative called, “Make Atlanta Your Own Gym” (MAYOG). 

The city is looking to get its locals moving more without the need for a gym membership, encouraging people to make the most of its freely accessible parks, trails and public outdoor spaces, which span over 300 sites.

The project launched at the end of July in collaboration with Atlanta Parks & Recreation, Atlanta Beltline, Park Pride and Atlanta Public Schools as the city looks to help residents build healthier lifestyles.

“What if we didn’t need a fancy gym or expensive equipment to turn things around? What if the solution was already here — in the sidewalks beneath our feet, the trails we pass on our morning commute, the parks tucked between city blocks?” the MAYOG website reads.

The initiative is Atlanta’s way of addressing the public health crises of Americans not moving enough, as roughly one-third of the country faces metabolic syndrome, a group of five health risk factors that occur together. According to the American Heart Association, having three or more of these signs raises risk of getting heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Georgia is facing its own public health crisis, as over a third of the state’s adults are obese, and 1 in 5 children are heading that direction.

“Chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity are among the leading causes of death in Georgia — and they are largely preventable through regular physical activity,” said healthcare manager at the Fulton County Board of Health Dr. Ammy Astacio. “This campaign brings prevention to the streets, parks, and neighborhoods of Atlanta — making fitness easy, free and a part of daily life.”

But health problems don’t just put a strain on people’s well-being. The MAYOG initiative is also an attempt by the city to lessen the financial burden that poor health places on the state. Every year, nearly $1 billion is spent on healthcare costs related to inactivity, the Georgia Department of Public Health reports.

The campaign is also looking to leverage the power of community — an ongoing trend flooding all aspects of the fitness and wellness industry nowadays.

Atlanta is leaning into grassroots partnerships (with schools, nonprofits, fitness instructors, influencers and more) and community programming to get people moving and building sustainable exercise habits. That includes citywide fitness challenges, free or low-cost fitness classes, walking clubs, youth sports leagues and pop-up workout stations.

One Atlanta resident who already makes the most of the city’s Beltline trails spoke with CBS News about the importance of getting outside in her fitness routine.

“I don’t want to go to the gym because I know I’m working out,” Sophia Brown, who said she walks along the trails for two hours three times a week, told CBS. “If I’m outdoors and I’m walking and I’m talking, I feel good, and I don’t feel like I’m working out.”

While the city is encouraging people to seek out free outdoor fitness, Atlanta is already home to an extensive brick-and-mortar fitness community for those looking for more traditional workout spaces. The city has attracted brands like SculptHouse, Pvolve and Carbon Performance, while boasting a strong running community fueled by groups like Atlanta Run Club.