RECREATION/HEALTH CLUBS

Charlottesville Daily Progress
Published: September 6, 2007

Baseball and T-ball

Central Little League: Open to ages 5-12. Games played at Pen Park. Contact Alan Dalkin at 978-3899.

McIntire Little League: Open to ages 5-12. Games played at McIntire Park. Contact Jeff Moscicki at 978-4884.

Monticello Little League: Open to ages 5-12. Games played at Quarry Road Park. Contact Peyton Humphrey at 296-2156.

Piedmont Little League: Open to ages 5-12. Games played at Tonsler Park. Contact James Thompson at 296-5734.

Northside Cal Ripken Baseball League: Open to ages 5-12. Games played at Hollymead and Baker Butler elementary schools.

Dixie Youth Baseball League: Open to ages 5-15. Games played at Scottsville Community Center. Contact Gene Johnson at 286-3612.

Lane Babe Ruth Baseball League: Open to ages 13-18. Games played at Lane Field. Contact Chris Willis at 245-8868.

Men's Adult Baseball League: Open to ages 19 and over. Games played at Burley Middle School, Albemarle High School, Monticello High School and Charlottesville High School.

Biking

Charlottesville Racing Club: All ages and levels welcome for road racing, mountain biking and cyclocross. 975-1900.

Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club: CAMBC is dedicated to promoting mountain bike access in the Charlottesville Virginia area, maintaining trails, and providing a meeting point for local mountain bikers.

Bird watching

Monticello Bird Club: Informal group of about 150 people who join together to share their enthusiasm for birds. Monthly meetings feature invited speakers from throughout the state who share their expertise with entertaining and informative presentations. Field trips with experienced leaders to local or distant sites take you to where the birds are.

Boating and fishing

Walnut Creek Lake: Walnut Creek is stocked with sunfish, channel catfish and largemouth bass. A Virginia fishing license is required. U.S. Coast Guard-approved boats and crafts welcome. Gasoline-powered motors prohibited. Electronic motors are allowed. Canoe rental: $5 an hour from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.

Chris Greene Lake: A Virginia fishing license is required and a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier is available. U.S. Coast Guard-approved boats and crafts welcome. Gasoline-powered motors prohibited. Electronic motors are allowed.

Mint Springs Valley Park: Mint Springs is stocked with trout. A trout fishing license is required from October until June. Mint Springs also has sunfish, channel catfish and largemouth bass. A Virginia fishing license is required all year. U.S. Coast Guard-approved boats and crafts welcome. Gasoline-powered motors prohibited. Electronic motors are allowed.

James River State Park: James River State Park has three fishing ponds and three miles of river frontage for freshwater fishing. The park also has a canoe launch in Canoe Landing Campground and a trailer boat launch at Dixon Landing. Off U.S. 60 in Gladstone. Take U.S. 29 south to U.S. 60 east.

Lake Anna State Park: Well known for its largemouth bass, crappie and bream. A variety of other freshwater fish can also be found. A valid Virginia fishing license is required. A 1.5-acre fishing pond designed for children and handicapped persons only is located near the visitor center. Also, a public boat launching ramp is available, along with many areas for bank fishing.

Canoeing and tubing

James River Reeling and Rafting: Equipment and tube rental and transportation in downtown Scottsville for floating down the James River. 286-4FUN.

James River Runners: Offers canoeing, rafting, inner tubing, kayaking, camping, and fishing on the James in Scottsville. Self-guided canoe, raft, tube and kayak trips daily in season. 286-2338.

Field hockey

Girls Middle School Field Hockey League: Open to middle school girls. Contact Regina Kirk at 296-5820.

Football

Central Virginia Pop Warner: Open to boys ages 9-13, cheerleading open to girls ages 9-13. Contact Gene Ware at 953-9273.

Thomas Jefferson Youth Football: Open to boys ages 8-13, cheerleading open to girls 7-14. Contact Robert Collins at 295-1648.

Hiking

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club: Local hiking club leads short and long hikes every Saturday. Meet at the Sprint parking lot at 2307 Hydraulic Road in Charlottesville. 293-2953 or 295-2143.

Outdoor Adventure Social Club of Greater Charlottesville: For graduate students and locals interested in the outdoors to meet, socialize and go on adventures together, including biking, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, scuba, skiing/snow tubing, backpacking, camping, skydiving, hot-air ballooning, caving/spelunking and river clean-up. 760-HIKE.

Horseback riding

Shenandoah Crossing: Off Route 749 in Gordonsville. Take I-64 to U.S. 15 north to U.S. 33 east to Route 749. Walking trail rides, wagon rides, pony rides, experienced rides, ring rides and lessons. Lessons cost $25/$40, are semi-private or private and last 45 minutes. Beginners will learn mounting, balance, handling and maneuvering the horse. Hours of operation are seasonal. All rides require reservations. (540) 832-9400, ext. 9571.

Ice skating

Charlottesville Ice Park: Located on the Downtown Mall across from the Omni Charlottesville Hotel. Figure skating and hockey. 817-1423.

Lacrosse

Seminole Lacrosse: Open to boys ages 4-17 and girls ages 7-15. Games played at Darden Towe Memorial Park. Contact Al Sadtler at 975-0949.

Charlottesville Adult Summer League Lacrosse: Open to all ages. Games played at Darden Towe Memorial Park. Contact Doug Tarring at 295-5550.

Boys Middle School Lacrosse League: Open to middle school boys. Contact Lynda Tubridy at 975-0645.

Girls Middle School Lacrosse League: Open to middle school girls. Contact Regina Kirk at 296-5820.

Rugby

Virginia Rugby Football Club: The state's oldest, founded in 1961. Plays in the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union men's division. Practices Tuesdays, Thursdays at Edgehill Farm. www.virginiarugby.org.

Running

Charlottesville Track Club: A nonprofit organization with more than 1,000 members, CTC conducts 40 races each year, including the Charlottesville 10-Miler in April and the Women's 4-Miler in September. The club, based at Ragged Mountain Running Shop, is open to all ages and abilities and offers three training programs (novice women's, 10-Miler and novice marathoner programs) of which more than 1,500 people participated last year. 293-6115.

Charlottesville Trail Running Club: A new nonprofit organization, the Charlottesville Trail Running Club is committed to promoting trail running in Charlottesville and the surrounding area. CTRC sponsors preservation, discovery and creation of trails and organizes weekly trail runs and other events. Contact Francesca Conte at 293-7915.

Skydiving

Skydive Orange: Off Route 20 in Orange. Take I-64 east to U.S. 15 north to Route 20. Hundreds of tandem freefall, static line and AFF freefall skydives are made every year at Skydive Orange. The Skydive Orange Parachute club is a U.S. Parachute Association-affiliated parachute center open since the late-1970s. (877) 348-3759.

Skydive Virginia: Off U.S. 33 in Louisa. Take I-64 east to Exit 143, left on Route 208 for eight miles, then a right at the traffic light onto U.S. 33. Skydive Virginia is a United States Parachuting Association member located at the Louisa County Airport. (540) 967-3997 or (540) 941-8085.

Soccer

Soccer Organization of Charlottesville-Albemarle: Open to boys and girls ages 5-adult. Contact Bill Mueller at 975-5025.

Softball

Piedmont Girls Fastpitch Softball: Open to girls ages 7-16. Games played at Albemarle, Monticello and Western Albemarle high schools. Contact James Thompson at 296-5734.

Charlottesville Parks & Recreation Adult Softball League: Open to all adults. Games played at Darden Towe Memorial Park, McIntire Park, Washington Park and Piedmont Virginia Community College. Contact Bernie Garrison at 970-3260.

Squash

Albemarle Racquet Club: Two hard-ball and two soft-ball indoor courts located near Albemarle High School. 973-1321.

Swimming

Jefferson Swim League: Sixteen youth teams with a total of more than 2,500 participants compete through the summer. Age divisions range from 6 and under to 15-18. 975-5001.

Crow Pool: Indoor, Crow Recreation Center on Rose Hill Drive. Recreational swimming and lap swimming. 977-1362.

Smith Recreation Center: 1000 Cherry Ave. Indoor youth and adult swim lessons, adult aerobic classes, recreation programs and water therapy. 977-1960.

Meade Pool: Outdoor, on Meade Avenue. 295-7532.

Washington Park Pool: Outdoor, at Washington Park off Preston Ave. 977-2607.

McIntire Wading Pool: Outdoor, near McIntire Park. Open daily. 295-9072.

Forest Hills Pool: Outdoor wading pool on Forest Hills Avenue. 296-1444.

UVa Aquatic and Fitness Center: 450 Whitehead Road, adjacent to Scott Stadium. For students, faculty and staff. Offers 50-meter pools, Jacuzzi, wading pool, cardiovascular equipment, strength training, aerobic dance, martial arts. 924-3791.

Chris Greene Lake: North of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport on Route 850, off Route 606. 296-5844.

Walnut Creek Park: Route 631, mile south of Route 708. Take U.S. 29 south from Charlottesville. 296-5844.

Mint Springs Valley Park: Crozet, Route 684, west of Charlottesville. 296-5844.

Claudius Crozet Park: West of Charlottesville in Crozet. Open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 823-5834.

Lake Anna State Park: Off Lawyers Road in Spotsylvania. Take I-64 east to U.S. 522 north to Route 208 east before making a left on Lawyers Road.

Tennis

University of Virginia: 13 lighted courts next to Memorial Gym. Public use sometimes restricted.

Rivanna Park: Four-court complex.

Albemarle High School: Eight lighted hard courts.

Pen Park: Eight hard courts. No lights.

Tonsler Park: Four lighted hard courts.

Charlottesville High School: Six lighted hard courts.

Ultimate Frisbee

Charlottesville Ultimate Disc Association: Provides venues for recreational and competitive ultimate Frisbee through organization of pick-up games, summer and winter leagues. Hosts co-ed pickup games every Thursday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at noon at Washington Park.

Volleyball

Central Virginia Area Volleyball Club: Open to girls ages 8-17, draws players from Albemarle, Charlottesville, Greene, Fluvanna, Orange, Madison, Nelson and Culpeper. Contact Lance Rogers at 971-9231.

Health clubs

ACAC Fitness and Wellness Center: 500 Albemarle Square. 978-3800. Basketball, volleyball, walking and jogging track, free weights, circuit training, cardiovascular equipment, personal training, yoga, martial arts, stress management, child care, aquatics center, Jacuzzi, sauna, massage, conference center, wellness seminars. Also, ACAC Adventure Central features seven clay tennis courts 978-7529, outdoor swimming pool and a water park. 973-5987 at 200 Four Seasons Drive.

ACAC Downtown: 111 Monticello Ave. Smaller version of ACAC Fitness and Wellness Center. Close to downtown businesses. Offers group exercise classes, extensive cardiovascular equipment, resistance equipment, free weights and personal training. 984-3800.

Armstrong Fitness: 727 Lake Monticello Road, Palmyra. Single, family, senior and corporate membership with child care on-site. 589-8700.

Atlantic Sports and Rehabilitation Services: 1400 Incarnation Drive, Charlottesville. Offers personal training programs for all ages, strength and conditioning programs for high school athletes. 978-4915.

Boar's Head Sports Club: U.S. 250 west of Charlottesville. Offers: Outdoor-indoor tennis and tennis instruction, swimming, cardiovascular and strength training, exercise equipment, aerobics classes, personal training, children's programs, squash, private restaurant and affiliation with Birdwood Golf Course. Tennis instruction, restaurant and golf course open to the public. 972-2237.

Curves For Women: Multiple locations: 78 Joshua Lane, Palmyra, 589-1212. 8458 Seminole Trail, Ruckersville, 990-0093. 2114 Angus Road, Charlottesville, 295-7771. 3440 Seminole Trail, Charlottesville, 979-7771.

Gold's Gym: 1801 Hydraulic Road. Offers family, individual, corporate memberships, student/senior rates; Body Masters, Cybex, Hammer Strength free weight equipment, new cardiovascular equipment, aerobics, saunas, tanning beds, personal trainers, nutritional counseling, fitness assessments, day care, pro shop. 973-1307.

James River Fitness Center: 375 Valley St., Scottsville. 286-9000.

Medfit Wellness Center: 3008 Berkmar Drive, Charlottesville. 964-9430.

Quick Gym: Water Street Parking Garage. 4-minute workout on Range of Motion, or ROM machine, a combination rower/stairclimber. 220-3143.

Rocky Top Rec: 1729 Allied St., Charlottesville. 984-1626.

Stanardsville Barbell Club and Fitness Center: 71 Lambs Lane, Stanardsville. 985-6966.