Exercise Linked to Anxiety Reduction for Columbus Residents

Residents who log 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week report 25 percent fewer anxiety symptoms than those who stay sedentary, according to a 2025 analysis from the Ohio Department of Health.

The finding arrives as more Columbus adults seek ways to handle daily pressures without added costs. Primary-care visits for anxiety climbed 18 percent between 2023 and 2025 in Franklin County, pushing local clinics to recommend activity before medication in mild cases.

Programs on the ground

The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department runs free group walks every weekday morning at Goodale Park, drawing 40 to 60 people on average. Participants meet at the park entrance on Park Street at 7 a.m. and cover a 3-mile loop that ends back at the same spot. A second option sits three blocks east at the Short North YMCA on North High Street, where members pay $45 a month for drop-in strength classes that run at noon and 6 p.m.

Both sites track attendance through simple sign-in sheets. Data collected last quarter showed that people who attended at least three sessions a week lowered self-reported anxiety scores by an average of four points on a standard 21-point scale after eight weeks.

City planners chose these locations because they sit within a 10-minute walk of dense residential blocks and major bus lines. The department added evening sessions at Goodale Park in May after riders on the COTA 2 bus line requested later start times.

Next steps for residents

Anyone can begin with a 20-minute walk along the Scioto Greenway Trail starting at the Bicentennial Park entrance on West Broad Street. The paved path stays flat and well lit until 10 p.m. For structured guidance, the same Recreation and Parks office posts a monthly calendar on its website listing every free class and the exact meeting spot. Staff answer questions by phone at 614-645-3300 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.