Fresh Air Fitness

Dallas-Fort Worth outdoor fitness classes to fall for in October

Find an outdoor fitness class you love at Klyde Warren Park.

Photo courtesy of Klyde Warren Park

Now is the time to step it up — outside, that is. This glorious fall weather is drawing Dallasites and Fort Worthians outdoors to jog, stretch, and dance, and we've got a handy list of some al fresco classes you'll want to check out.

Goat Yoga, Addison Circle Park
You were expecting downward facing dog, but did you expect goats in Halloween costumes? You can enjoy both as you get your GOGA on while a tribe of pet goats graze and jump around (or on) you. Note: This class does require advance tickets and signing a liability waiver.

Fitness classes, Klyde Warren Park
Take your pick from barre, meditation, sweat & sculpt, pilates, and bootcamp — they're all free and happening during weekends in October and into early November. Check the website for times and parking info, and be sure to bring a mat and water bottle with you.

Pilates in the Park, Griggs Park
Join Oak Cliff Pilates in celebrating the opening of its new Uptown studio, with free outdoor classes as a gift to you. Every Saturday from October 19-November 9, head to Griggs Park at 9 am and get ready to move, breathe, and connect.

Dance lessons, Sundance Square
From salsa to swing, learn a few steps for free before live bands take the stage in Sundance Square Plaza. October 12 is salsa taught by DanceMakers of Texas, followed by cumbia night featuring Havana NRG. October 19 brings a class from Jubilee Swing Dance followed by Sundance Square Big Band.

Yoga, Burnett Park
Pencil in Tuesdays in October from 5:30-6:15 pm, when it's BYOM (bring your own mat) for a free restorative yoga class in the park. Metered parking in downtown is free after 6 pm, or you can swing by Neighbor's House Grocery across the street for dinner or a snack and they will validate your parking in the First on 7th parking garage for four hours. Plus, show them your yoga mat for 10 percent off your purchase.

Yoga, Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
TGIF with a relaxing introductory yoga session surrounded by peaceful nature. Meet at the Marty Leonard Lotus Marsh Boardwalk at 9 am, and the class is free for members ($5 with paid admission for non-members). Pre-registration is required for October 11, October 18, and October 25.

Outdoor Fitness Series, Southlake
Bootcamp, yoga, and even Halloween-themed zumba are on the schedule for this free series that takes place in different parks throughout Southlake and is taught by Champions Club's group fitness instructors. No registration or membership is required, and as an added incentive to attend, The Marq Champions Club is giving away a Yeti Roadies 24 hard cooler. Every class you attend earns a raffle ticket, and at the end of the series one lucky person will win the prize.

health fitness parks nature video goat yoga swing dance salsa lessons promoted

Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

politics