Guaranteed to make you feel better mentally and physically, exercise is a great way to improve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Whether you’re looking to get stronger, lose weight, or boost endurance, working out will surely help in achieving those goals. Whether you’re a seasoned fitness enthusiast or just starting your fitness journey, using your body weight to workout, known as calisthenics, is challenging and might be the best way to get stronger and condition your physique. Outdoor gyms in Boston provide simple but highly effective workout equipment like pull up bars, sit up benches, parallel bars, and more, that can get you in the best shape of your life.
Skip the crowded gym and monotonous hum of workout machines and challenge yourself by doing calisthenics, while saving money on a membership fee…because working out at one of the many outdoor gyms in the Boston area is always free! Step out of your comfort zone and take advantage of the fitness equipment many local parks provide instead of the same old same old. Avoid distractions, enjoy beautiful scenery, and discover the amazing feeling after a grueling open-air training session.
In this blog, we will introduce you to some of the best outdoor gyms the city has to offer…so get out there and get moving!
A List of Our Favorite Outdoor Gyms in Boston and Beyond
1) Smith Playground in Boston
This park is an all-around great place to spend time outdoors with family and friends. With features like a colorful playground, terrific basketball courts, an off-leash dog park, walking paths, and multiple fields, there is something to do for everyone. You can also find a fantastic recently built outdoor gym to help reach your fitness objectives. Grouped together in one section near the back of the park, the orange and teal workout equipment has plenty of options to stay in shape including:
– Pull up bars
– Parallel bars (dip station)
– Horizontal ladder
– Sit up bench
– Vertical ladder
– Raised step station
– Vertical knee raise station
Try doing some sprints on the field in between sets to supercharge your workout. We also suggest enjoying a walk around the park after your routine to cool off and breathe some fresh air.
2) Gilmore Playground in Waltham
This park is one of our top choices in Waltham, a Boston suburb with so many amazing outdoor spaces to choose from. The city has done an outstanding job of updating their parks in recent years and has installed outdoor gyms in many locations. One of these places is Gilmore Playground, a compact feature-rich park enjoyed by many in the neighborhood. With some dedication and consistency, this outdoor gym will surely improve your strength and conditioning in no time with equipment like:
– Pull up bars
– Horizontal ladder
– Balance beam
– Push up bars
– Body curl bench
– Sit up bench
Treat yourself to a delicious (but healthy 🙂 ) post-workout meal from one of the many first-rate eateries on Moody Street only a few blocks away, but make sure you earn it first!
3) Corey Hill Outlook Playground in Brookline
This spot is well-known for its incredible views of the city and is a popular destination to watch the fireworks on the 4th of July, but we wanted to shine the spotlight on the workout equipment you can find here. This outdoor gym offers pull up bars, a vertical knee raise station, a raised step station, and a balance beam, all in place to improve your strength and state of mind after a strenuous workout. Really looking to push yourself to the limit? Try sprinting up the hill from Beacon Street and feel your legs burning like never before. Relax on the lounge chairs afterwards while enjoying sweeping views of the Boston skyline.
4) Harambee Park in Boston
One of the top parks in the city with a wonderful playground featured in our “10 Amazing Playgrounds in the Boston Area” article, Harambee Park also has one of the best outdoor gyms in Boston. Spread across multiple stations on the south side of the park next to the football field, you can find a wide variety of workout equipment that provides for a great exercise circuit. Strength and agility training instruments include:
– Stretching station
– Balance beam
– Pull up bars
– Balance beam
– Body curl bench
– Sit up bench
– Vertical ladder
– Raised step station
Boost your mental strength on the chess tables near the larger playground for a complete body and mind workout. Another promising idea: a post-workout walk on the extensive network of paved paths, while feeling like a million bucks after an exhausting exercise session.
5) Mary Hannon Playground in Boston
Located on the border of Roxbury and Dorchester, this impressive urban park has recently been renovated from the ground up. City planners considered health and fitness when making improvements to this playground and installed a fantastic outdoor gym alongside the circular walking path. In addition to great amenities like excellent basketball courts and synthetic athletic field, this park provides terrific open-air workout equipment including:
– Parallel bars (dip station)
– Pull up bars
– Horizontal ladder
– Vertical ladder
– Sit up bench
– Kettlebells
– Tire flip (on athletic field)
Be sure to take advantage of the exercise opportunities offered at this local park and experience the great feeling coming your way after working out.
6) Old Harbor Park in Boston
A wonderful place to take a walk, this linear waterfront park provides beautiful views of the city skyline and Boston harbor. Turn your walk into an intense training session by making use of the exercise stations available alongside the main path. Get stronger and make your body more durable while soaking up some sun and breathing in fresh ocean air. With options like a sit up bench, pull up bars, parallel bars, a vertical knee raise station, and more, this outdoor gym easily delivers a satisfying workout. With plenty of benches right at the water’s edge, taking some time to unwind and admire the seascape after tiring physical activity is well-deserved.
7) Auburndale Park (The Cove) in Newton
Located on the outskirts of town in the suburbs of Newton, Auburndale Park is not easily accessed by public transportation and can be considered a hidden gem for those who enjoy outdoor fun. A nice quiet spot situated right on the banks of the Charles River with picturesque scenery, this beautiful place has plenty of amenities ensuring a successful park visit. The incredible outdoor gym can be considered a top choice for open-air fitness fans in the metro area. Improve your physical abilities and increase power on a broad range of equipment:
– Raised step station
– Stretching station
– Push up bars
– Balance beam
– Pull up bars
– Arm exercise station (hand cycle)
– Resistance squat station
– Sit up bench
With BBQs and picnic tables, bringing workout friends to grill with after getting shredded will lead to good times. We suggest cooking some high-quality meats and vegetables, which will surely help build muscle and assist in the recovery process.
8) Magazine Beach in Cambridge
Surrounded by world famous educational institutions like Harvard University and MIT, plus Boston University on the other side of the river, the iconic outdoor gym at Magazine Beach is an immensely popular location for students to focus on their physique. Recently overhauled with brand new equipment installed, this well-known workout spot is open to everyone, and regular city dwellers can also use the:
– Pull up bars
– Horizontal ladder
– Push up bars
– Sit up bench
– Raised step station
– Parallel Bars (dip station)
Situated right along the Dr. Paul Dudley White Path, which stretches all the way from the Museum of Science to Watertown, supplementing your workout with a long walk or bike ride while enjoying breathtaking panoramic views of the city is an added health benefit.
9) Charles River Esplanade Outdoor Gym in Boston
Let us jump right across the river and a little inbound to the Charles River Esplanade, a much-loved pathway running alongside Storrow Drive from Beacon Hill to Brookline. This state-owned linear park is a top destination for locals and tourists alike and features multiple playgrounds, a bandshell for summertime concerts, and plenty of seating to help absorb the gorgeous scenery. But the amenity we wanted to highlight is the impressive outdoor gym suitable for vigorous strength training, light stretching, or anything in between. Get your workout in on the available:
– Pull up bars
– Stretching station
– Balance beam
– Push up bars
– Body curl bench
– Sit up bench
With the Boston skyline in the background, sailboats zipping by when it is nice out, and scores of people passing by on their walks and bike rides, training at this incredible outdoor gym in Boston is a true delight.
10) Langone Park in Boston
Already written about in our “Top 10 Basketball Courts in Boston” blog for its unbelievable basketball court with breathtaking views, Langone Park also has a nice outdoor gym where you can enjoy the same stunning scene. Feel the burn right on the waterfront using pull up bars, a stretching station, a vertical ladder, and parallel bars. With a drinking fountain and picnic tables right next to the fitness equipment, staying hydrated and enjoying a healthy snack is easy to do. Use the seaside swimming pool during the summertime after an intense workout to cool down and show off the toned look you’ve been working so hard to achieve.
A Few More Thoughts…and We’re Done!
And there you have it: our go-to guide for outdoor gyms in Boston. These parks will accommodate exercise experts to beginners just starting their fitness chapter. But no matter what level you’re at physically, get ready for a demanding workout and remember to push yourself for maximum results! So, steer clear of the indoor gym smell, embrace the open air, and step up your fitness routine at the awesome outdoor gyms in Boston. Explore more parks with workout equipment in the Boston area with the Parkscape app, available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. We promise you’ll love it!
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