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NYC NOW
WNYC
A Calisthenics Lesson From New York's Playground Fitness Scene
13 minutes Posted Sep 18, 2026 at 8:00 pm.
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New York City's parks have long doubled as free, open air gyms, and the tradition stretches back to groups like The Bartendaz, who started training on playground bars in the Bronx and Brooklyn in the early 2000s. WNYC producer James Ramsey headed to Chelsea Park to get a lesson in that scene from Brooklyn-born trainer Danny Kavadlo, and shared what he learned with us.
 


Photo: Walter Wuthmann

 

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