Find Family-Friendly Fitness in Robertson County, TN

This county north of Nashville has plenty of fantastic ways to exercise and socialize.

By Cary Estes on April 9, 2024

Jeff Adkins

When Ethan Pelton and his sons first became interested in indoor climbing, they had to make the 60-mile round trip to Nashville. So, to enjoy the activity while still remaining in Robertson County, Pelton decided to open his own climbing gym on the courthouse square in downtown Springfield. 

This new venture, called 504 Climb, is one of numerous family-friendly options for fun and fitness in Robertson County. The region also offers greenways, trail systems, running groups, water recreation and various youth sports programs, including a new NFL-sanctioned flag football league. 

“We have a lot of options going on most of the year,” Pelton says. “Some of the outdoor things calm down a little bit in the winter, but that’s where all the gyms and yoga studios and places like 504 Climb can help out.” 

As with many of the fitness options in Robertson County, 504 Climb combines exercise with social connections among family and friends – which is appropriate, since Pelton began the business partly to provide his family with a more convenient place to climb. 

“It became such a regular part of our lives, but we always had to go to Nashville,” Pelton says. “So, we found this old bank building with high ceilings that was built in the late 1800s and opened 504 Climb. We call it a boutique, neighborhood climbing gym. It offers a more intimate, social experience.” 

Robertson County Family YMCA

Parks, Playgrounds and Pathways 

Outdoor recreation fun is plentiful at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Springfield. Located south of downtown, the park opened a wheelchair-accessible, inclusive playground in 2021 along with a splash pad. In addition, the park has football and soccer fields, as well as trails and a walking/jogging track. 

Fitness in Robertson County also can double as a means of transportation in Robertson County, with several greenways and trail systems connecting residential areas with businesses and parks throughout the region. These include the paved 4-mile Springfield Greenway, a scenic route in the northern part of the city that runs partly beside a tree-lined creek. And water lovers can kayak or canoe on the Red River. 

Organized runs are available through the Robertson County Family YMCA, which hosts a 5K and 10K event around the holidays, along with a 1K Fun Run for children. The YMCA also provides youth sports leagues for basketball, football and soccer, as well as swimming lessons and exercise classes. 

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Flag Football 

One of the area’s newest youth sports programs is the Robertson County Flag Football League, which started in 2023 with approximately 130 players, both boys and girls. League President Randall “Pierre” Alexander says he expects the number of participants to be closer to 400 in 2024. 

“We saw this need for some type of sports mentorship program that gives the kids the physical and mental health that they need,” 

Alexander says. “And being an NFL-sanctioned league appeals to the kids because they can play as the Titans or the Cowboys or the Bengals. 

“We had a great first season with tons of support from the community. Now we’re reaching out to the high schools about putting together some seven-on-seven flag teams for them. We’re testing the waters with flag football, then we’re hoping to move into baseball and street hockey. This area is growing and there are a lot of kids, and it’s important to keep them active and healthy.”

Joggers & Lagers 

Of course, many adults also like to combine fun with their fitness in Robertson County. One way to do both in Robertson County is with the Joggers & Lagers running group. They meet each Thursday at BS Brew Works for runs of between 1 and 3 miles followed by food, friendship and some beverages. 

What began in 2021 as just a few people using the brewpub as an initial meeting spot for a casual run has turned into an organized gathering, with members also traveling together to compete in out-of-town marathons and relay events. 

“It’s become a tight-knit group who do other things together. They even have a float for the Christmas parade,” Pelton says. “BS Brew Works has a very family-oriented atmosphere with couches and board games. It’s just another way to have a focus on exercising, socializing, community and family.”