wellness

Essendon Parks Double As Dog-Friendly Fitness Hubs For Residents

Residents meet for group workouts while exercising their dogs at neighbourhood green spaces that now host regular classes.

By Essendon Wellness Desk · Published 9 July 2026

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Essendon residents have turned Lincoln Park on Lincoln Road into a weekday morning fitness site where dog owners complete circuit sessions alongside their pets.

The shift reflects growing demand for outdoor activities that combine pet care with structured exercise after local council surveys showed higher park attendance during weekday mornings in 2025.

Two parks hosting combined programs

Lincoln Park runs the Paws in Motion class every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am, organised by the Essendon Active Paws group that formed in March 2026. Participants complete bodyweight intervals on the grass near the playground while dogs remain on leads during the 45-minute session. The second site, Essendon North Reserve near Bulla Road, added a Saturday 8am bootcamp in April 2026 that includes agility drills for dogs and resistance-band work for owners on the open field beside the railway line.

Both locations require dogs to be registered with the local council and kept on lead except during designated off-lead zones marked by signage installed last year.

Attendance figures and costs

Essendon City Council records released in June 2026 show 248 people attended at least one combined session across the two parks in the first quarter of the year, a 31 percent rise from the same period in 2025. Each class costs $12 for residents who hold a current dog registration tag, with the fee covering insurance and equipment storage at the Lincoln Park pavilion.

Organisers have scheduled an additional Wednesday evening session at Lincoln Park starting 15 July 2026 to accommodate shift workers.

Interested residents can register through the Essendon Active Paws website or arrive 10 minutes early with proof of vaccination for their dog.

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