When the Niles-Buchanan YMCA kicks off its third annual Day in the Park Saturday, it will host free exercise sessions open to the public from 8 a.m. to noon.
But it will also be a preparation of sorts for a week-long schedule of free outdoor classes that will be held while the YMCA shuts down for maintenance and cleaning.
The YMCA will close its doors Monday through Labor Day, Sept. 5.
“We’re going to be doing a lot of basically maintenance and cleaning,” said Greg Schuman, membership and marketing director for the YMCA. “We’ve got staff lined up to do a real thorough cleaning of the facility.”
This will be the first time the YMCA has shut down in such a way since it opened its new facility.
“We’ve never done this before and this will become something of an annual thing,” Schuman said, though he added in the future the YMCA hopes not to have to close down for a whole week for annual cleanings.
In the meantime, it’s taking fitness to the riverfront with a special week-long schedule of classes for members and nonmembers.
“We’ll be hosting — it’s kind of like Day in the Park — every day we’ll be having some group exercise classes throughout the day … it’s a mix of all our classes,” Schuman said.
Day in the Park is now in its third year and Schuman said he’s hoping to see a strong turnout after two weather battered years running.
An estimated 50 people came out to the Riverfront Park Amphitheater in the event’s first year, despite frigid temperatures and last year the event was plagued by rain.
“The forecast is shaping up to be a beautiful Saturday morning,” Schuman said.
For a full schedule of classes that will take place during the week while the YMCA closes for cleaning, go to www.nb-ymca.org.

A Day in the Park
Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon
Schedule of classes at amphitheater

8 a.m. — Core Fusion
8:30 a.m. — Zumba
9 a.m. — Zumba
9:30 a.m. — Zumba Gold
10 a.m. — Kickboxing
10:30 a.m. — Zumba Toning
11 a.m. — Nothing But Stretch
11:30 a.m. — Zumba

Schedule of classes off the amphitheater

8 a.m. — Bootcamp
8:30 a.m. — Core Fusion
9 a.m. — Toning
9:30 a.m. — Ab Blast
10 a.m. — Cardio
10:30 a.m. — Bootcamp
11 a.m. — Plyo Burn
11:30 a.m. — Interval Mix