Local greenways fill on warm days with joggers, walkers and cyclists.
Ah, January, when we make our annual pledge to get in shape. Fortunately, University City abounds with ways to do it. We offer this guide to nearby places to shed pounds, train for a marathon, swim laps, leap for the sky, kick-box yourself silly or just stroll amid nature.
Traditional fitness centers
Fitness Connection
8404 N. Tryon St.
704-405-1330
Life Time Fitness
8514 University City Blvd in the Town Center Plaza
704-510-4988
Planet Fitness
10215-B University City Blvd in the Back Creek Center
704-548-2722
YMCA of Greater Charlotte – University City YMCA
8100 Old Mallard Creek Road
704-716-6700
Extensive facility includes indoor and outdoor pools, gym, indoor track, fitness studio, and health and wellness center. Wide range of fitness and sports programs for children through older adults. New program called Barre combines yoga, Pilates and ballet move to strengthen muscles without impact.
Alternative fitness programs
9Round 30 minute kickbox fitness
2115 E. Arbors Drive (near Starbucks) in The Arbors shopping center
980-224-8512
Intensive workouts at your own schedule. Their slogan is “Get fit, never hit.”
Defy Gravity indoor trampoline park
8116 University City Blvd
704-817-4660
Defy Gravity is a 26,000 square foot facility with wall-to-wall steel-frame trampolines including the world-famous Angled Wall Trampolines, an expansive Olympic Foam Pit and one of the largest Trampoline Dodgeball cages in America. Open play times as well as GravityFit classes featuring a high-intensity trampoline workout for all fitness levels.
Gotta Yoga Studio University
9539 Pinnacle Drive, Suite 350
704-688-7256
Wide variety of Yoga classes plus private sessions, parties, children’s programs
Yoga One University
10039 University City Blvd
980-237-0489
Offering 75 classes weekly at two locations, plus private sessions and free daily meditation sessions.
Run For Your Life
1816 East Arbors Drive Suite 420 in the Arbors shopping center
704-503-1105
The store carries running apparel and offers several running programs on the nearby greenways and in University Research Park for beginners, businesses and people training for half- and full Marathons. Run For Your Life also partners with Bike Line of Charlotte to co-sponsor the annual University City Duathlon and 5K/walk in early May.
Bike Line of Charlotte
8528 University City Blvd. in Town Center Plaza at the entrance to Toby Creek Greenway
704-549-8804
The store sells and repairs bikes and carries an extensive line of cycling apparel and other gear. Bike Line also rents bikes and offers a weekly Sunday morning ride beginning in Harrisburg and weekly evening rides on the Toby Creek Greenway, from mid-spring to mid-autumn. Bike Line also co-sponsors the University City Duathlon and 5K/walk in early May with Run For Your Life.
Take advantage of our natural places
University Place
North Tryon Street at W.T. Harris Boulevard
The creators of this unique center three decades ago intentionally created the 11-acre lake as a people magnet. It’s always a lovely stroll around the lake and over the big bridge. There are many places to sit and watch the water, the geese and other people, including several restaurants with patios overlooking the water.
UNC Charlotte
9201 University City Boulevard
The 1,000-acre campus is full of life most weekdays, but on weekends and school breaks this is a beautiful and unique place to explore. About half of the campus roads have bike lanes, with more coming soon. Cyclists also can ride on campus sidewalks. You’ll find many bike racks to secure your bike when you want to explore on foot or visit a building. Stop by the student union for coffee, snacks, a full meal and a visit to Barnes & Noble, the most complete 49er-themed bookstore on the planet!
Toby, Mallard and Clark’s Creek greenways
The network of greenways and side trails covers more than 12 miles through UNC Charlotte, the University Research Park and a dozen neighborhoods. Deer are easy to spot at dawn and dusk. Plenty of other wildlife and human life, too, particularly once spring arrives. Parking available at Town Center Plaza, Kirk Farm Fields (Mallard Creek Church Road) and Mallard Creek Elementary School (Mallard Creek Road).
- Website (information and maps)
- Saturday greenway runs – University City Road Runners, a large running club, holds weekly runs on the Mallard Creek Greenway. The group gathers for runs at 7 am Saturdays at the Cafeccino coffee shop, 2706 W. Mallard Creek Church Road in the Cochran Commons shopping center. Learn more at ucrun.com
- Weekly greenway bike rides – Bike Line of Charlotte offers weekly rides on the Toby Creek Greenway from late spring to early fall. See Bike Line information above.
- Runner training programs – See Run For Your Life information above.
Reedy Creek Nature Preserve and Nature Center
The park, just a mile east of Harris Boulevard on Rocky river Road, covers 867 acres and features three ponds, 10 miles of paths and trails, a full nature center and regular programming by park staff. Several sports groups use the park and offer events, too.
- Website (Information, programs and map)
- Weekly park hikes – Reedy Creek Hiking Club offers weekly Hike for your Health walks, 5 p.m. Tuesdays, as well as special events such as a Haiku (poetry) Walk, 2 p.m. Jan. 24. Details about the club website.
Did we miss your fitness business or group?
We try to be exhaustive (OK, pun intended) with this list of fitness-based businesses and fitness groups that operate in University City’s Municipal Service District. If we missed your business or group, please let us know. We can always add information to this online article and include you in future news. Simply email Rich Haag, the newsletter editor, at richhaag@me.com. For a map of the MSD and more information on University City Partners, click here.
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