Fun & Games: Fernandina Beach Parks & Recreation Department

By Beth Jones

Oct. 3, 2025

Don’t miss Art in the Park on Oct. 10 at the Teddy Bear Park gazebo at Central Park. It’s from 10-11 a.m., and the free event is open to all ages.

It’s just one of the many activities offered by the city of Fernandina Beach Parks & Recreation Department. A full list of those activities below.

Kids Day In is scheduled for Oct. 25, from 1-4 p.m., at the Atlantic Recreation Center, 2500 Atlantic Ave. Cost is $15 per child. Participants will create fall-themed crafts, head outdoors for play and play games. A snack will be provided. Call 904-310-3364 or email sgolden@fbfl.city for information.

Children 3 and up can sign up for swim lessons this fall. The session runs Oct. 11 through Nov. 15, with classes from 9-9:30 a.m. every Saturday at the MLK Jr. Center pool.

Classes are free for city residents in the manatee (beginner) and sea turtle (advanced beginner) classes. Cost is $96 for non-city residents. There are also classes for dolphin and stingray (intermediate) swimmers. Call 904-310-3350 or email lgomez@fbfl.city. Pre-registration is required.

The city is also offering a senior craft day at the MLK Jr. auditorium, with paper quilling from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 22. Crafts are provided. Fee is $10 per person. Contact Cassady Smith at casmith@fbfl.org or 904-310-3353.

A complete list of the activities offered by the city of Fernandina Beach Parks and Recreation Department:

SPORTS

OPEN ADULT PING PONG at the Atlantic Center. Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-noon and Thursdays from 4:30-7 p.m. in the Atlantic Center Auditorium. All skill levels welcomed. Open recreation format: official ping pong serving and scoring rules shall be followed. Loaner paddles and ping pong balls provided. For more information, call/text Don Hughes (904) 415-0667 or Richard Stratton (904) 321-2239.

OPEN ADULT COED VOLLEYBALL at Peck Gym. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. Informal team games on two courts. Teams selected each night. Ages 16 and older (ages 16 and 17 must have parental consent form signed by parents and notarized before participating). $3/night city resident, $5 non-city.

OPEN BASKETBALL at Peck Gym Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (court closes for school and club practices as well as adult leagues throughout the year, see Peck attendant or call (904) 310-3354 for more details). People younger than 16 must be accompanied by adults 18 or older. Photo identification must be presented to enter Peck Gym.

PICKLEBALL LEAGUES: Leagues started Sept. 16 and 18 at 5:15 p.m. We are offering 3.0 Mixed Doubles, 3.5 Mixed Doubles and a 3.0-3.5 Women’s League. Our 3.0 Mixed Doubles plays Tuesdays starting at 5:15 p.m. and the 3.5 Mixed Doubles plays right after starting at 7 p.m. The 3.0-3.5 Women’s League plays Thursdays starting at 5:15 p.m.

PICKLEBALL at Central Park Pickleball Courts. Six lighted courts are available. For more information, including scheduled play and open play times, view the following link from the city of Fernandina Beach.

CENTRAL PARK TENNIS COURTS. Four lighted hard courts are available for open play. Courts 1 and 2 (closest to South 13th Street) reserved for instructed play during posted hours.

ROD GIBSON TENNIS SERVICES at Central Park Tennis Courts 1 and 2. Available instructed programs:

Private lessons: Lessons with head professional $60 per hour city residents, $70 non-city; $30/30 minutes city residents, $35 non-city. Lessons with professional staff $50/hour city residents, $60 non-city; $25/30 minutes city residents, $30 non-city.

Semi-private lessons: Lessons with head professional plus two players: $35/hour city residents, $40 non-city. Lessons with professional staff plus two players: $30/hour city residents, $35 non-city.

Group lessons: Lessons with head professional plus three players: $24/hour city residents, $27 non-city; plus four players: $18/hour city residents, $20/hour non-city; plus five players: $14/hour city residents, $16 non-city; plus six or more players: $12/hour city residents, $14 non-city. Lessons with staff professional plus three players: $20/hour city residents, $24 non-city; plus four players: $15/hour city residents, $18 non-city; plus five players: $12/hour city residents, $15 non-city; plus six or more players: $10/hour city residents, $12 non-city.

To register for junior or adult clinics or private, semi-private or group lessons, email instructor Rod Gibson, USPTA Certified Elite Tennis Professional, at rodgibsontennis@gmail.com or call (904) 891-6927. Twenty-four hours’ cancellation required for adult clinics and private, semi-private and group instruction. Schedule and description of clinics available at the Atlantic Center or on the city’s website: www.fbfl.us.

OPEN ROLLER HOCKEY at the Main Beach Multi-Purpose Court

Adult/Older Teens skate: Tuesdays from 5-6 p.m. (Beginner) and Saturdays from 4:15-4:45 p.m. (Easy) and 4:45-6 p.m. (Advanced)

Family skate: Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 3-4 p.m. For more information, call Ray Matz at (215) 852-7038.

FITNESS AREAS

Weight Room/Cardio Area at Peck Gym, 510 South 10th St. Free weights, selectorized equipment, Matrix treadmills, Precor elliptical, Cybex Arc Trainer, Matrix recumbent and upright bikes, and Kettler rower. Ages 13 and older (ages 13-15 with adult supervision; ages 16-17 unsupervised but with waiver signed by parent or guardian). Open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (later hours on Tuesday and Thursday during evening court sports activities)

Atlantic Fitness Room at the Atlantic Center, 2500 Atlantic Ave. Precor treadmills and ellipticals; Precor recumbent and upright bikes; Concept 2 rower; Nautilus StairMaster Stepmill; Hammer Strength plate loaded fitness equipment; Magnum Fitness Biangular Series machines; and free weights. Ages 13 and older (ages 13-15 with adult supervision; ages 16-17 unsupervised but with waiver signed by parent or guardian). Fall hours: Monday-Friday from 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (5-9 p.m. for membership holders only), Saturday from 5:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (membership holders only on Sunday).

Text FBGym to 91896 for updates on fitness hours sent directly to your phone.

Daily/monthly fitness area fees: City residents — $5/day; $30/month; $90/four months. Non-city residents: $10/day; $38/month; $113/four months. Daily fees and passes are valid at both fitness areas.

Couples’ rates are also available. Fitness/Pool combination passes are also available for use of Atlantic Fitness Room and Atlantic Pool. Information available at the Atlantic Center.

Personal training is available at the Atlantic Fitness Room with Melissa Taylor, certified through International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). Single one-hour session, 3-pack (three one-hour sessions) and 10-pack (10 one-hour sessions) packages available. Contact Melissa (flexfitnessllc1@gmail.com; (904) 430-7171) to set up a consultation.

Text FBGym to 91896 to have updates on gym hours sent right to your phone.

AQUATICS

Atlantic Pool schedule Oct. 1-31, 2025: Monday-Friday — lap swim and water exercise from 5:30-8:30 a.m.; aqua aerobics from 9-11 a.m.; closed from 11 a.m.-noon; noon-3 p.m.: lap swim, water exercise (six lanes), Kiddie Splash Pad. 3-5 p.m.: Monday, Wednesday, Friday — open swim, Kiddie Splash Pad (three lap lanes), lap swim, water exercise three lanes; Tuesday and Thursdays — 3-4 p.m. lap swim and water exercise, (three lanes) open swim (three lanes) and kiddie pool; Tuesday and Thursdays 4-5 p.m. — Aqua Aerobics (two lanes), lap swim (one lane) open swim (two lanes) and kiddie pool. Saturdays — 10 a.m.-5 p.m. open swim and kiddie pool; Sundays: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. lap swim/water exercise (two lanes), open swim and kiddie pool.

Martin Luther King Jr. Pool schedule Oct. 1-31: Saturdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m. open swim and kiddie pool, and up to three lap lanes.

AQUA AEROBICS at Atlantic Pool, 2500 Atlantic Ave. Full pool; no separate shallow and deep-water classes. Monday-Friday at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.; Tuesday and Thursdays at 4 p.m., Saturdays at 9 a.m.

MLK Pool 1200 Elm St. Full pool; no separate shallow and deep-water classes. Wednesday 4 p.m. classes.

Monthly, one class/day: $60 city residents, $75 non-city residents. $7/day for one class city residents, $10 non-city. 10-admissions’ pass: $60 city residents, $75 non-city for one class/day.

Aqua Aerobics/Fitness combination passes available (includes use of Atlantic Fitness Room). Inquire at Atlantic Center.

Text FBPool to 91896 to have pool updates sent directly to your phone.

BEACH WHEELCHAIRS can be reserved at the Atlantic Center. Four wheelchairs available. Call (904) 310-3350 for availability.

INSTRUCTED PROGRAMS

JAPANESE JU JITSU AND KENJUTSU at the Peck Center, 1st Floor Instructors’ Studio, 516 South 10th St. Ju Jitsu involves striking, kicking, throwing and submission through joint locks and finishing techniques. Kenjutsu involves use of the katana (sword) and bokken (wooden sword). Both classes ages 12 and older. Ju Jitsu is offered Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m.: $8/class or $60/month city residents; $10/class or $75/month non-city. Kenjutsu offered Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m.: $8/class or $30/month city residents; $10/class or $36/month non-city. For more information and to register, contact Sensei Jeff Weisfeld: (443) 864-3331; ameliaislandbushido@gmail.com.

BOOTCAMP CLASSES at Main Beach. Take part in instructor Charity Ross’s Bootcamp at Main Beach (some classes at Egans Creek Park — late fall and winter months). These outdoor workouts will challenge your aerobic and anaerobic capacities and core strength with sprint drills, plyometric exercises and conditioning circuits. $150/month per participant. Weekly class schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7 a.m., 7-8 a.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Saturdays from 7-8 a.m. (three classes per week recommended). Contact Charity via Facebook (Ross Fitness); Instagram (@charityrosspt); or call Charity with questions: (904) 729-7965.

YOGA at the Atlantic Recreation Center Instructors Studio. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. Please bring a mat and wear comfortable clothes. $20 per person per class. For more information, contact instructor Lynn Aiello (aster353@msn.com; (856) 904-7160).

AERIAL SILK DANCE CLASSES at the Atlantic Center. Ages 9 and older. Students learn movement, flow and poses using the two strands of fabric wrapped around the body in various ways while suspended in the air to create Aerial Dance. Beginning, intermediate and advanced skills are taught along with whole body stretching and strength conditioning. Students start by learning the basics and safely master skills to progress in levels while working at their own pace. One hour per class. Schedule: Monday-Thursday from 3-8 p.m. on the Atlantic auditorium stage; and Tuesday only from 3-6 p.m. in the Atlantic Instructors Studio. $180 per month for eight classes over four weeks; $90 per month for four classes over four weeks. Contact instructor Marah Lovequist at (904) 556-6957 for available tuition and schedule options.

HIP HOP ABS ADULT COED EXERCISE CLASSES at the MLK Jr. Center. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the MLK Jr. Center auditorium. Ages 18 and older. Free. Contact John Coverdell for more information, jcoverdell@fbfl.org or (904) 310-3351.