June 2024 Workout Series!

Anacostia Park plays a significant role in providing a safe space for the people of DC and beyond to come together and engage in exercise, swimming, walking, running, fishing, and so much more. The park spans over 1,200 acres and approximately 5 miles long. It also fosters fellowship within the community bringing together strangers, family, friends, or coworkers creating new memories and connections.

Our June Workout Series, held at Anacostia Park was created to engage the community and to combat the health and wellness disparities faced by people east of the river. Residents in Ward 7 and 8 experience much higher rates of physical and mental health challenges than those in other parts of the city, including a lack of access to fresh foods, safe outdoor spaces, and the degradation of the natural environment.

We aimed to address these health and wellness issues by offering free classes every Saturday in June. These classes were designed for people of all ages and backgrounds and focused on getting the body moving under the guidance of certified instructors. They also provided opportunities for healthy food cooking demonstrations and tastings – all provided by East of the River small businesses. 

This series supports our new Health and Wellness Initiative Strategy #1: Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health. “The 11th Street Bridge Park will utilize holistic approaches to connect residents to nature and each other, promote healing and joy, and provide safe and restorative spaces for the resilient and thriving residents surrounding the park.” These strategies were developed by local stakeholders as part of our latest Equitable Development Plan.

We also wanted to highlight business owners in our community by including East of the River entrepreneurs to lead these health and wellness classes. All fitness instructors and health leaders, as well as participating food restaurants, were businesses located in DC. This aligns with our Strategy #1: Business at the Park, which “supports and nurtures a thriving network of small businesses.”

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported our health initiative. We had so much fun seeing everyone get healthy and engage with each other, making the event a huge success. Your enthusiasm and involvement truly made a difference, and we can’t wait to see you at our next events!