University City: A diverse, growing area

I've been calling the University City area home for the past 14 years, and I love it for all the reasons you would enjoy living anywhere: close proximity to plentiful shopping, grocery stores, uptown and places to eat when I don't want to cook. But its best asset has to be the energy, diversity and spirit of the people who live here.

Unlike me, many of my neighbors didn't grow up in Charlotte. They came because of jobs. Wells- Fargo, IBM, TIAA-Cref and Electrolux are responsible for many of University City's residents. I think we have a good mix of newcomers and Charlotteans, and that keeps things fresh.

I appreciate the effort transplants often make to get to know their neighbors. Maybe it's their way of creating "family" in their newly adopted city. Families seem to mix well with the college students who call UNC Charlotte home.

We are a very racially diverse community. I love eavesdropping and hearing the different opinions and accents on the sidelines of the soccer fields at Mallard Creek Park. Several annual international festivals are sponsored by the university, as well as by the University City YMCA.

Speaking of the Y, it's my favorite place to go for an indoor workout. You'll find the standard equipment in the weight room - but it's the camaraderie I appreciate the most. If you "fall off the wagon" and miss a few workouts, the regulars are sure to notice and will give you a bit of a hard time when you return.

You can find me on Mondays in Becky's Total Strength class; after all the squats and lunges you might not be able to walk the next day, but you'll feel a sense of accomplishment simply because you made it through the hour. And I appreciate Elizabeth's patience with those of us who keep coming to yoga but can't quite remember all the poses.

One of the places I would miss the most if I moved would be the Mallard Creek and Clark's Creek Greenway.

Rosie (my 6-year-old Shepherd-Labrador mix) and I spend many mornings running or walking along the nearly seven miles of trail. The greenway runs behind many neighborhoods, through the University Research Park and ends up not too far from UNCC.

While I wouldn't say our community has a "college town" feel, the university is a great resource. Ask any parent about the popularity of their summer camps. If you don't sign up early, you can forget about it. For the adults, the school offers great opportunities for continuing education. I've often talked about how I didn't fully take advantage of all the great speakers and programs that were part of college life when I was a student. Well, having UNCC close by gives me another chance to get it right. If you haven't been on the campus, it's worth a visit.

As a parent, I see plenty of my neighbors on Friday nights at football games at Mallard Creek High School. The Mavericks gave this community plenty to cheer about last year as they were undefeated in the regular season. My Saturday afternoons are reserved for more football, soccer and basketball.

On weekends, you'll also find a lot of people gathering around the lake behind the University Hilton. There's sure to be live music outside one of the restaurants and plenty of people walking or enjoying a paddle boat ride. I love to get a scoop of the butter pecan from Ninety's Ice Cream and Sandwiches, find a bench and just sit and people-watch.

If Italian ice is more your style, you won't be alone. The tables are always full on a hot summer night at the Rita's over on Mallard Creek Church Road.

University City can be comfortable for everyone - close to the heart of Charlotte, and offering all the necessary basics. And it's growing in a way that keeps life fresh and new.