Looking to stay fit in 2024? Consider local rec departments, nonprofits

If you’re hoping to get fit and stay active in 2024, you’re not alone.

A survey from Forbes Health/OnePoll from October found that “improved fitness” is the No. 1 New Year’s resolution, with just under half of the 1,000 U.S. survey respondents saying it is a priority.

Finding ways to keep moving in January doesn’t necessarily have to involve paying gym dues. Across the region, local recreation departments, community centers and nonprofit organizations offer a host of low-cost or free athletic, fitness and wellness-based activities.

Social sports

For those hoping to combine team-based activity with social gathering and networking, Pittsburgh Sports League offers about a dozen different sports programs in several locations for young professionals.

A program of PUMP, a Pittsburgh-area advocacy nonprofit, the Pittsburgh Sports League serves about 13,000 people each year and has been doing so for more than 20 years, director Greg Mitrik said.

“We aim to keep as many folks engaged over as many different activities as possible,” Mitrik said. “It really feeds into that health and wellness is part of the mission of our organization.”

Activities are mixed gender and range from more intensive team sports such as softball, volleyball and dodgeball, to bowling and more casual bar sports such as cornhole.

Registrations are open to teams and individuals. “Play Solo” event nights invite people to come in on their own and learn a new sport while meeting people.

“We are as inclusive as possible. Inclusivity is at the heart of what we do,” Mitrik said. “While we do have these team-oriented events and leagues, we do our best with these Play Solos and pickleball nights and the opportunity to sign up as a free agent.”

The group is popular among people who have just moved to Pittsburgh who are looking for an active hobby, he said.

“As far as experience, it’s not required for any of them,” Mitrik said. “Some of the sports we have that would have more experience-based needs, we have levels of competition. … We would like to think we have a spot for everybody.”

Costs vary by sport, but are usually between $40 and $60 per person. Sports with larger team sizes might have lower costs as they are shared among the team.

Activities kick back in to gear the first week of January, and interested individuals can sign up online.

Municipal options

Municipalities also offer programs geared towards fitness. While some discounts are available for residents of the municipality, they’re usually open to everyone.

At Murrysville Parks and Recreation, outdoors enthusiasts and those curious about their local parks can participate in Hot Chocolate Hikes during the winter months. The next hike is Jan. 15 at Pleasant Valley Park, with a second “Sweetheart Hike” scheduled for Feb. 14 at Murrysville Community Park.

The events are free, with advance registration, and open to any level of hiking experience — and feature hot chocolate treats at the end of the trail. Those interested can sign up online, though walk-ups are welcome.

“It’s not long, it’s not arduous, but it gets people out. Our goal is always to get (people) out on trails that maybe they haven’t been to before, and that they didn’t know were there,” said Carly Greene, Murrysville director of recreation. “The whole goal is to get people out and to stay active, and also to expose our properties so that they can enjoy them in the future.”

The hikes usually don’t last more than an hour, and are about 2 to 3 miles long. Greene recommends wearing warm clothes to be prepared for cold weather.

In the Penn-Trafford region, the Penn-Trafford Area Recreation Commission is an intergovernmental commission that operates separately from the recreation boards and committees in the areas it serves.

Though the commission’s board of directors includes leaders from Penn-Trafford School District; Penn Township; and Penn, Manor and Trafford boroughs, anyone can sign up and buy tickets for PTARC’s classes.

“I’m not going to lie, we do see a lot of new names in January and February, especially for the exercise programs,” PTARC Director Linda Bires said.

The commission offers a plethora of classes for youth, adults and seniors. They include everything from cardio kickboxing to senior strength-and-stretch to kids’ dance and tumbling.

“We try to offer things in the community that aren’t available for participants otherwise,” she said. “We try to find where there’s a void, and try to fill that void.”

Programs are typically low-cost, running from $7 to $9 per class to as little as $2.

“Even with our T-ball programs and our intro basketball programs for the littles, you’re not investing a whole ton of money. You’re not committing to a payment every month,” Bires said. “I’ve always referred to PTARC as a test-drive. Try out whatever you’re interested in, and if you find you like it, you can go on to something a little more professional or expensive and invest the money.”

In Hempfield, the parks and recreation department hosts a variety of activities at the township athletic complex indoor sports facility.

Membership to the complex is free for all township residents, $20 annually for nonresidents, and $10 for nonresidents 55 and older.

“With that membership, you’re able to access anytime we have open court, for any sport,” township parks and recreation Director Marissa Haynes said.

Members pay $5 to participate in the open-court events, which include basketball, soccer and the increasingly popular pickleball.

“It’s free to walk once you have the membership, and we do have a track around the building,” she added. “It’s a .01 mile loop, so 10 laps make a mile.”

The complex also hosts group athletic classes for yoga and Zumba, which don’t require a membership.

“Our activities and programs are really what we’re looking forward to this winter season,” Haynes said. “Anyone can come on in and get their membership, and we’d love to have you.”

Youth activity

Hempfield’s parks and recreation department also offers programs for kids and young adults alongside its adult offerings. Though the sign-up period for the township’s basketball program has passed, other activities, such as youth karate, tap-dancing and ballet, are still open for registration.

Residents of the township can sign up this week. Nonresidents can register next week.

In the New Kensington area, Kings and Queens of the Court, a local youth basketball camp held at the Roy A. Hunt Elementary School gym, gives children ages 5 to 15 a chance to work on their fundamentals while staying active.

The program is held in summer and winter, with the summer program including a league for teenagers and college students.

The winter program has been consistently popular over the past two and a half years, with some sessions attracting more than 100 participants. Participants hail from New Kensington, as well as Lower Burrell, Natrona Heights, Highlands and Penn Hills.

This year’s camp starts Jan. 26, with sign-ups later this month. The cost is $25 per child.

“The kids’ skill levels range from never touching a basketball before to kids that have been playing,” said Ian Benson, the program’s founder. “It’s just getting in and trying to find a balance, and getting them active. That’s really the main goal, starting them early on the sport.”