Our West Bayfront's West Bayfit, Back Again

Marissa Litzenberg

Join the folks at Our West Bayfront along with the Erie County Department of Health for their weekly gathering at Bayview Park for West Bayfit. Enjoy farmer's markets, crafts, educational opportunities, and physical challenges.

CONTINUING JUL. 12

Cultivating the Erie community, Our West Bayfront (OWB) offers West Bayfit events for all Erieites throughout the month of July. OWB has been a valued organization for their neighborhood area since 2014, helping to create a strengthened community that emphasizes the well-rounded health of each individual. This nonprofit organization revitalizes neighborhoods in the lower west side of Erie spanning from Sassafras Street to the Bayfront Connector, and West 12th Street to Presque Isle Bay. The weekly West Bayfit events held at Bayview Park are a part of OWB's outreach — the goal of this program being to enliven Bayview Park with action to inspire all people to be healthy and active in both mind and body.

West Bayfit has something for everyone, with S.T.E.M. related activities, crafts (like kite building or painting plant pots), athletics, music, food, and more. West Bayfit combines the efforts of many local partners from the Erie area to collaborate and offer resources to the people of the West Bayfront area. Gannon University and First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant lead the featured sport of the week. Gannon's student volunteers are available to help those interested in learning the sport (which can include volleyball, tennis, wiffleball, and soccer). Anyone is welcome to play; no prior knowledge is needed.  A hockey game led by the McDowell Hockey Club and pickleball with the Erie Pickleball Association are planned for the summer.

Burch Farms provides a $5 food voucher and brings fresh food to West Bayfit, farmers market style. Other consistent partners include Feeding Minds and the Erie County Department of Health.

The efforts of OWB and West Bayfit have been positive as Bayview Park continues to increase in popularity with folks using the space to connect with others, nature, and themselves. Project manager for OWB (and 2023 40 Under 40 honoree) Marissa Litzenberg mentioned the park quickly attracts people filled with anticipation for the night's events and activities. Litzenberg's favorite role at this experience is "meeting the inquisitive kids or seeing kids become inquisitive. They will start at a location, at one of the activities a little quiet and as they build their craft, there are people helping them and cheering them on and they really build confidence as the night goes on."

You don't have to live in the West Bayfront to enjoy West Bayfit gatherings — all are welcome to come and enjoy an evening of fun and fitness! 

6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesdays July 12, 19, and 26 // Bayview Park, W. 2nd and Cherry streets // Free