Fitness Areas / Walking Paths
If you are looking for free and affordable opportunities to increase fitness levels and improve your health, look no further than your favorite park! 
Exercise can add years to your life by helping to improve flexibility, strength, energy, and coordination – lessening your risk of injury. You don’t have to be super-fit because every little bit of exercise counts, and just getting started is a giant step forward for those who have been inactive. No matter how much time or effort is spent, the benefits of exercise are meaningful. (Click a topic below for more information or scroll down to see all details.)
* Fitness Areas
* CC Hospital Pathway to Discovery
* Walking Paths
FITNESS AREAS
While many of Cape Coral’s parks have walking paths for people to enjoy, a few of the parks also have special fitness equipment intended to assist with strength and conditioning. All of the fitness equipment is marked with instructions for proper use and designed for adults and responsible juveniles; however, individuals with health problems should consult a physician prior to beginning a workout routine.
Of the six parks with fitness equipment, three of them have fitness trails with various exercise stations situated along the paths. This allows for park goers to experience an aerobic workout in addition to strength, endurance, and flexibility training. The parks with fitness trails include:
Joe Stonis Park – Open from sunrise to 9:00 p.m. daily, this park includes two fitness paths intended for different skill levels:
* Inner Loop – “Life Trail” – This .2 mile lower impact fitness trail includes extensive equipment and instructions for exercises such as forearm rolls, standing push-ups, single leg balancing, hamstring stretch, seated curl, bench stepper, partial lunge, and upper body stretch and strengthener. In addition, large informational signage located throughout the different fitness stations cover such topics as exercising benefits and tips, healthy eating, the importance of good posture, fall prevention, an overview of arthritis and osteoporosis, and introductions to yoga and tai chi.
* Outer Loop – This .4-mile higher impact fitness trail extends around the perimeter of the park and is designed for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy. Some of the extensive fitness equipment located along this path include rowers, dual exercise bars (push-up and pull-up), a leg press, air walkers, 2-sided rotators, a sit-up bench, sit-up boards, and a pommel horse. Instructions for the proper use and repetition recommendations can be found at each station.
Saratoga Lake Park – Open from sunrise to sunset daily, this park includes a single fitness path around the perimeter of the park. The trail includes 12 stations with basic equipment and instructions for exercises such as leg stretches, jumping jacks, chin-ups, bench leg lifts, and more.
Del Prado Linear Park - Open from sunrise to sunset daily, this park was developed along Del Prado Blvd as part of a road-widening improvement project between Pine Island Rd and Kismet Pkwy. The two-mile-long sidewalk runs on both sides of Del Prado Blvd with eight (8) fitness stations, park benches, bike racks, etc. being located on the east side of the road between Diplomat Pkwy and Kismet Pkwy. The fitness stations include equipment that was designed for static and dynamic stretches; pulling, back, angle bar, and hurdle; squat, dip, push-up, and balance; power and agility step; core, torso, and balance disc.
The other three parks in Cape Coral that have fitness equipment house all of the different exercise equipment in the same area. These parks include:
Jaycee Park – Open from sunrise to sunset daily, this park is situated on the banks of the beautiful Caloosahatchee River and the fitness area is located near the front parking lot between the restrooms and playground. The “ParCourse” Fit Circuit offers 15 exercise events at 8 separate stations which focus on stretching and strengthening. Equipment includes a vault bar, sit-up bench, push-up bar, chin-up bar, inclined bench, knee lift post, bench dip/curl, and log hop.
The “Iron Mountain Forge” fitness center has 10 stations intended to help improve agility, strength, and muscle tone. Some of the different exercise equipment includes the challenge ladder, balance beam, vertical ladder, sit-up, and spring-up benches, parallel bars, and a beam run.
Lake Kennedy Park – Open from sunrise to sunset daily, the fitness area at Lake Kennedy is located at the front of the park adjacent to Lake Kennedy Center. Exercise stations in the area include a Hand Cycle, Chest Press, Leg Extension, Balance Plank, Sit-Up Station, Push-Up Station, Upright Cycle, and Chin-up Station. Since the equipment selected provides a full-body workout, the area has been officially designated as a "National Demonstration Site for Adult Fitness" by PlayCore, joining over 150 communities across the country in a network of best practice sites. There is no fee to use the equipment, so make it a point to get out to Lake Kennedy Park and give it a try!
Rotary Park - Open from sunrise to sunset daily, the fitness area at Rotary Park is located on the east side of the property adjacent to Liam J. Perk Playground. The "Energi Prime Total Body Fitness System" has several stations designed to work different parts of the body with various exercise options and progressive levels of difficulty illustrated on large colorful signage. Some of the areas of focus include: Power Step Excercises, Core & Torso Excercises, Dynamic Stretches & Active Movement, and Agility Step Exercises.
The “Iron Mountain Forge” fitness center has 10 stations intended to help improve agility, strength, and muscle tone. Some of the different exercise equipment includes the challenge ladder, balance beam, vertical ladder, sit-up, and spring-up benches, parallel bars, and a beam run.
Lake Kennedy Park – Open from sunrise to sunset daily, the fitness area at Lake Kennedy is located at the front of the park adjacent to Lake Kennedy Center. Exercise stations in the area include a Hand Cycle, Chest Press, Leg Extension, Balance Plank, Sit-Up Station, Push-Up Station, Upright Cycle, and Chin-up Station. Since the equipment selected provides a full-body workout, the area has been officially designated as a "National Demonstration Site for Adult Fitness" by PlayCore, joining over 150 communities across the country in a network of best practice sites. There is no fee to use the equipment, so make it a point to get out to Lake Kennedy Park and give it a try!
Rotary Park - Open from sunrise to sunset daily, the fitness area at Rotary Park is located on the east side of the property adjacent to Liam J. Perk Playground. The "Energi Prime Total Body Fitness System" has several stations designed to work different parts of the body with various exercise options and progressive levels of difficulty illustrated on large colorful signage. Some of the areas of focus include: Power Step Excercises, Core & Torso Excercises, Dynamic Stretches & Active Movement, and Agility Step Exercises.
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The City of Cape Coral and Cape Coral Hospital have also partnered to create a "Memorandum of Understanding" intended to promote each other's public facilities and encourage health and wellness. The hospital's new "Pathway to Discovery," located on the west side of their Del Prado campus, features walking/jogging paths, exercise stations, a reflection pond, a healing garden, and a teaching garden. Take advantage of this free community resource! Pick up a map in the hospital's main lobby or click here to view the "Pathway to Discovery" map.
Regardless of how or where you choose to exercise, the best results are often achieved when you remember to think "F.I.T." (Frequency, Intensity, and Time). When combined with a healthy diet, good fitness, and all the benefits that come with it, can greatly improve your quality of life.
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WALKING PATHS
Whether you are interested in walking for exercise or taking in the scenery and enjoying nature, Cape Coral Parks and Recreation offers many locations to choose from to have an enjoyable outdoor adventure. The below parks are open from sunrise to 9:00 p.m. daily. To view park amenities and get directions, click on the park name(s):
- Camelot Park – This 6.4-acre neighborhood park has a circular 3/10 mile paved walking path around the perimeter of two tennis courts, picnic pavilions, and a playground.
- Del Prado Linear Park - This park has a 10-foot wide concrete sidewalk that starts just north of Pine Island Rd and extends ~2 miles on the east side of the road with fitness stations, park benches, and bike racks, etc. located between Diplomat Pkwy and Kismet Pkwy. The sidewalk also branches off between Pine Island Rd and Diplomat Pkwy to go under Del Prado with the sidewalk on the west side circling Lake Zurich.
- Horton Park – This park includes a short walking path along the Caloosahatchee River overlooking the five-acre salt water boat launch facility.
- Jaycee Park – This popular park, located along the banks of the scenic Caloosahatchee River, has a 3/10 mile paved walking path and fitness stations on site.
- Jim Jeffers Park – This 18.7-acre park includes a short paved walking path from the parking area to a beautiful three-acre lake.
- Joe Stonis Park – This neighborhood park has two paved walking paths – an interior one that is .2 miles and an exterior one that is .4 miles – circling a beautiful one-acre lake with fitness equipment located along both pathways.
- Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve – This large nature park has a 6600’ nature trail and boardwalk plus two observation piers. Since this is a nature preserve, no running, bikes, dogs, skating or rollerblading is permitted. Wildlife sightings are possible, keeping in mind that being slow and quiet will improve your chances of seeing wildlife behaving naturally in their environment. Guided and special hikes are available several times during the year so be sure to check the current program guide for dates and costs.
- Lake Kennedy - Lake Kennedy offers a 3/10 mile paved walking path around a beautifully landscaped garden and gazebo.
- Paul Sanborn Park – This three-acre neighborhood park, which is home to the only remaining banyan tree in Cape Coral, has a paved walking path around the perimeter of the area.
- Rosen Park – This large saltwater boat launch facility offers a short walking path and boardwalk along the scenic Chantry Canal.
- Rotary Park - Part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, Rotary Park has a rugged trail that is less than one mile long and passes through uplands & salt marshes. During the rainy season, be advised that parts of the trail may be underwater, so be sure to wear appropriate footwear. Since this is a nature trail, no running, biking, or dogs are permitted on the trail. Wildlife sightings are possible here as well, but the secret is to come early and walk quietly for the best chance to see creatures in their environment.
- Saratoga Lake Park - This five-acre neighborhood park has a 3/10 mile paved walking path around it to enjoy a beautiful lake view.
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For general information about Cape Coral Parks & Recreation, call (239) 573-3128 or, if you encounter an issue in one of Cape Coral's parks, please contact the Cape Coral Police Department's non-emergency line at (239) 574-3223.