Lap swim schedule is very accommodating and pool is clean and well equipped with kickboards, pull bouys and fins if needed. It’s well staffed with kind lifeguards giving me peace of mind knowing my life is well guarded. Showers are better than most but could still use a little more pressure and volume. It is also equipped with a steam room and sauna for a bonus. Other features include a play pool for kids along with a lazy river along with a decent separate sized pool that is heated warmer than the lap pool used for swim lessons, water aerobics and has whirlpool style jets with seating along one side of it if you’re looking to relax and get a whirlpool type massage.
I'm a senior and there are so many programs for the older person from which to chose. I take the 102 pickleball class on Wednesdays and the instructor is terrific and makes the class so much fun. I take an exercise class on Fridays in the heated pool. I get loads of exercise in eighty degree water temperature. I also am doing the strength training circuit three times a week and walk the track when I have extra time. Everyone is so friendly. I always look forward to going.
What’s not to love. The facility is great and the staff are too. My only complaint is sometimes during the winter pickleball seems to take up too many of the courts. I know pickleball can be a money maker but I have walked in at 14:00 and found 3/4 of the courts taken up by pickleball nets and 6 teenagers playing full court basketball on the remaining court.
Friendly staff
Helpful front desk folks
Variety of older adult programming
My grandson and I love the heated therapy pool
I personally wish that there were some older adult exercise programs in the afternoon. I am not an early riser.
I've been very impressed with the Baldwinsville YMCA. The facilities are always clean and fully operating. They post a schedule and stick to it. The front desk staff is competent and always very friendly. The pool is particularly well run. The lifeguards are alert and always working as they should. They manage the lanes well, and there always seems to be a place for me to get laps in when I visit. Love this YMCA.
That said, the East Area (Hal Welsh) YMCA is a polar opposite. The front desk staff lacks training. The locker rooms are typically not clean. The pool is very poorly managed. They are often late with posting their schedule and it is rarely accurate. They shut down lanes for private lessons with just a couple minutes of notice and boot the swimmers in the lane. The pace clock has been hidden behind the flags for months, making it completely unusable. The lifeguards seem to have a poor work ethic. Often times you [FIRST NAME REMOVED] see 3 or more of them sitting in the office, while 1 is on duty, and only 1 of the pools is open. Just seems like very poor staffing.
Love the location of the Y! Very convenient for me. Only negative is that the facility is looking 'worn', areas need painting and womens locker room faucets in sinks aren't working properly.