A monthly digest from Asphalt Green bringing you resources and news from the world of sports, fitness, and play.

VOL. 29 // SEPTEMBER 2026

SPORTS

ASPHALT GREEN SPORTS SHOWS HOW TO MAKE CHAMPIONS 

JONATHAN PACKLES BECOMES NATIONAL CHAMPION

Competing against the nation’s best 18-and-under swimmers at the 2026 Speedo Junior Nationals in Irvine, California, longtime AGUA swimmer Jonathan Packles won the 200m backstroke final, touching the wall in a personal best 1:59.54 — breaking the AGUA record on his way to becoming a national champion!

WHY THE RIDE HOME CAN MAKE OR BREAK AN ATHLETE'S JOURNEY 

Your athlete trained hard all week, but when game day came around, it didn't go as planned. As Asphalt Green's Chief Program Officer Kevin Burton says, ups and downs are part of every athlete's journey. In a recent blog, he explains why effective communication after disappointment can be the difference between a young athlete giving up on their journey or continuing to find joy, health, and friendship through sport.

AGUA WATER POLO'S UNFORGETTABLE SEASON

This season, seven athletes from AGUA Water Polo earned selection to USA Water Polo’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) Northeast Zone Team. Two additional athletes advanced even further, earning spots on USA Water Polo’s Futures National Teams at the Cadet and Youth levels, traveling overseas to compete against some of the top young players in the world. Head Coach Ilija Duretic explains how the program made this historic season possible.

FITNESS 

BEGINNER TIPS FOR TRAINING AND RECOVERY

THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO WORKOUT RECOVERY

If you want to sustain your fitness journey, proper recovery is non-negotiable. But today, recovery exercises remain one of the most overlooked practices in fitness. Check out four easy exercises you can start today to reduce your risk of injury and stay on track.

A BEGINNER STRENGTH WORKOUT, NO EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

Is your schedule picking up after summer vacation? Have no equipment at home? Here’s a beginner-friendly, no-equipment strength training workout you can do anywhere. 

PLAY

CELEBRATING A LEGACY OF IMPACT

JOIN US FOR AG IMPACT DAY THIS MONTH

Held on the anniversary of Asphalt Green’s opening more than 50 years ago, our first-ever AG Impact Day honors our founding commitment to making world-class programs accessible to all New Yorkers. We invite you to celebrate with fellow community members and us on Tuesday, September 22! 

CEO WALK AND TALK EPISODE 2: SUMMER DAY CAMP

Last month, we officially launched our Walk and Talk Series with Asphalt Green CEO Jordan Brackett to give you an inside look at how we bring our mission to life. For our second episode, Jordan visited Katie Duffy, Asphalt Green's Summer Day Camp Director for over a decade. Watch below to learn what it takes to build New York City's most beloved summer camp program.  

COMING UP

EVENTS & MORE

FOR KIDS

• Now-September 19 // Free Coed Basketball Clinics // Middle-school-aged kids are invited to join Asphalt Green Basketball every Saturday to develop their skills and build their confidence on the court. Register.
• September 11 // Fall Programs Begin // Full-season and term 1 sports, swim, and inclusive programs kick off. Browse and register.
• September 20 // Back-to-School Fall Fest // Spend an afternoon with the best activities from all over New York City in a fall celebration that includes games, performances, and princess lessons. Learn more and RSVP.
• September 21 // Play Days // Children ages 4-12 are invited to join us for our Awesome Autumn Play Day. Learn more.

FOR YOU

• Now-September 11 // Outdoor HIIT Camp // Our free summer series of outdoor high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Book a spot!

• Now-September 30 // New-Member Sale // Join as an annual member and enjoy $0 Initiation and double the free guest passes. Become a member.

• September 4-9 // Labor Day Personal Training Sale // Save 10% on all Buddy Training and Personal Training at our Upper East Side and Battery Park City campuses, and on Pilates Training packs at our Upper East Side campus. Keep an eye on our website for the discount code!

• September 8 // CWP Women in Sports & Leadership Summit // Join us for a Women in Sports Leadership Panel with Asphalt Green's Lia Neal, Kelly Ann Livingstone, and Nicole Patino, followed by the New York film premiere of Mighty Mary. Learn more and RSVP.

• September 17 // NYC Healthy Aging Fair // Join us for an afternoon of community resources, health screenings, and interactive activities on Litwin Field. RSVP today!

• September 22 // AG Impact Day // Celebrate our first-ever Impact Day: a dedicated day of giving that honors Asphalt Green's mission to make sports, fitness, and play accessible to all New Yorkers. Donate.
• September 26 // Taste of the Seaport // Join us for one of Lower Manhattan's most anticipated fall events, where some of the best local restaurants, top chefs, and small businesses come together to support our public schools. Buy tickets.