Thursday, June 25, 2026
Free Series kicks off at Johnnie B. Wiley Sports Pavillion on Saturday, June 27
BUFFALO (June 25, 2026) — Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and the City of Buffalo today announced the return of its Summer City Fitness Series. This popular, free outdoor program has been a cornerstone of accessible wellness opportunities for Buffalo residents for more than a decade, fostering a healthier and more active community.
Now in its 11th season, the series will again transform Johnnie B. Wiley Sports Pavilion (1100 Jefferson Avenue) into an outdoor fitness hub, offering free weekly classes led by local fitness movement Body of Wealth. Classes begin Saturday, June 27, and continue every Saturday (excluding July 4) through September 5, from 9 to 10 a.m.
“Access to healthy activities shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code or your ability to pay,” Mayor Sean Ryan said. “Summer City Fitness gives Buffalo residents a free, welcoming place to get active, improve their health and connect with their community all summer long. I’m grateful to Highmark for continuing to invest in the health and well-being of Buffalo residents, and helping remove barriers to wellness by making these opportunities accessible to all Buffalonians.”
Over the past decade, Summer City Fitness has served thousands of participants across the City of Buffalo, consistently growing in popularity and drawing over 1,000 attendees in recent seasons. Each session includes a dynamic warm-up, a boot camp-style workout, an energizing electric slide dance cool-down, and inspiring closing moments focused on mental well-being— open to all ages and abilities.
“Summer City Fitness has grown into a truly extraordinary program, bringing our community together each summer to get active and prioritize their health,” said Jessica Cox, president, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. “What makes this initiative especially impactful is how it goes beyond free fitness—connecting participants to meaningful resources that support overall well-being.”
Participants will receive free fresh produce from Urban Fruits and Veggies and complimentary water provided by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Additionally, Wellness Center will be on-site throughout the summer, offering preventive health screenings and connecting attendees to essential care and community services.
Cox added, “As the only health plan based in Buffalo, we’re proud to continue our longstanding partnership with the City of Buffalo and Mayor Sean Ryan to help build a stronger, healthier community.”
All classes are weather permitting. For more information about Summer City Fitness and other City of Buffalo programming, please visit https://www.buffalony.gov.
About Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Highmark Western and Northeastern New York Inc., doing business as Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, is the region’s largest and longest-standing health plan, with roots in Western New York dating back to 1936. Today, it is an affiliate of Highmark Inc. and other Highmark health plans, which collectively comprise the third largest overall Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated organization in the country with nearly 8 million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, West Virginia, Missouri and Kansas. The company insures over 500k members and employs more than 1,400 team members across New York State. It is one of the region’s strongest corporate citizens, investing over $8 million into 200 non-profit partners across New York. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.
For more information, contact
Amber Hartmann
716-208-9534
amber.hartmann@highmarkhealth.org
