Running north–south through the heart of Coral Springs, University Drive (State Road 817) is more than a six-lane thoroughfare—it’s the city’s unofficial main street and cultural heartbeat. Stretching from the Palm Beach County line to Broward Boulevard, the corridor in Coral Springs spans roughly five miles of lifestyle centers, public art, and local festivals that draw crowds from dawn coffee runs to late-night dessert stops.
The Walk & Cornerstone: Twin Anchors of Fun
The Walk at University—an open-air promenade at Sample Road—sets the tone with palm-shaded sidewalks, chef-driven restaurants, and twinkle-lit patios that host weekly jazz jams and seasonal craft fairs. Shoppers pop into national brands, grab fro-yo, then linger at sidewalk chess tables where retirees school teens in strategy.
Two blocks south, Cornerstone is rising as Coral Springs’ new downtown: luxury apartments over street-level cafés, a boutique hotel, and a showpiece plaza wired for concerts and art-film nights. Together, the twin hubs bracket a mile-long “living room” where residents stroll between sushi bars, bar-cades, and speakeasy-style cocktail dens without moving their car.
Arts & Community Vibe
You’ll spot murals on underpass walls, guitar-shaped sculptures outside city hall, and the Museum of Art Coral Springs just east of the drive—proof that creativity is baked into the boulevard. Every October, the street closes for Craftoberfest, a mash-up of local breweries, food trucks, and indie bands. Monthly First Friday Art Walks entice families with live painting demos and pop-up makers’ markets, while marathon runners love the flat, spectator-lined asphalt for Coral Springs’ Turkey Trot.
Everyday Convenience
Publix GreenWise, Trader Joe’s, and Costco bracket the corridor, and medical needs are covered by Broward Health Coral Springs a mile west. Parents appreciate A-rated Country Hills Elementary and Coral Glades High, while Broward College’s north campus sits five minutes north for continuing-ed classes. A block off University, residential streets hide 1970s ranches, new-build town-homes, and mid-rise condos—so you can live steps from action yet fall asleep to quiet cul-de-sacs.
Outdoor & Active Life
Drive two minutes west and you’re inside Cypress Park, home to eight lit pickleball courts, a state-of-the-art aquatic center, and a disc-golf course shaded by slash pines. Cyclists love the protected bike lanes painted along University Drive in 2024’s mobility-upgrade project, while joggers loop around nearby Betti Stradling Park’s fitness trail before grabbing açai bowls on the way home.
Getting Around South Florida
University Drive intersects the Sawgrass Expressway (SR-869) for 25-minute airport runs to FLL and 45-minute hops to PBI. Head east on Sample Road and you’ll hit the beach in 20 minutes; veer west and you’re at Everglades airboat tours in the same time. Tri-Rail’s Cypress Creek station, 15 minutes south, offers rail service to Miami for Heat games or cruise departures. Still, most errands stay hyper-local: Boca’s Uptown shopping, Parkland’s farmers’ market, and Pompano’s Isle Casino all sit within a relaxed 20-minute bubble.
Why Choose the University Drive Corridor?
No other Broward stretch matches this blend of walkable retail, public art, top schools, and fast-track commuting options. Whether you’re a food-forward millennial craving nightlife without Miami prices, a family seeking safe bike lanes and parks, or a retiree wanting coffee shops outside your condo door, University Drive delivers the perks of a planned downtown with the warmth of a suburban community.
Business Information
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150 East Palmetto Park Road, Ste 800, Boca Raton FL 33432
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