The Latest Scourge Afflicting Our Parks: Outdoor Yoga Classes?

A group of fit, healthy folks exercising in a public park in the open air. It’s the kind of optimistic vision that landscape architects include in project renderings, a seemingly ideal use for a public space.

The city of Denver, however, sees things a little differently. According to an article in the New York Times, officials there are cracking down on group fitness classes in public parks, saying that the trainers and instructors who run them – for a profit -- are violating regulations against commercial use of such places. Using public parks as a space for their businesses, according to city leaders, is taking unfair advantage of taxpayer-funded amenities. Groups have been booted out of public spaces in recent weeks.