Levin JCC

We love the JCC for its wonderful facilities, excellent programming, and overall welcoming atmosphere. Will use it as a family year-​round. The janitorial department could be a bit better, but that’s a minor quibble.

I am delighted I joined the Levin JCC and visit there frequently. It has a warm, family-​oriented, and welcoming environment with state-​of-​the-​art equipment. I work out and attend varied fitness classes (e.g. Zumba, cycling, NIA) as well as adult education programs (e.g. Men’s Group, inspiring guest speakers) regularly. The instructors and staff are friendly, helpful, and fun to be with. I often attend activities with friends and have made many new friends there.

We love the «J». So much to do. Kids can spend the entire day going between the gym and the pool. The new facilities are well kept, clean and make for a relaxing environment. For the adults in our family we take advantage of men’s basketball on Sunday morning (2 hours, full court) and tabata in addition to enjoying the amazing pool. The staff is always great and helpful. We actually drive from Chapel Hill because it’s the best deal going.

I’ve been a member now since the JCC opened. It’s a great facility that is getting even better as it matures. I’m happy that the number and different types of fitness classes have increased. Try Tabada on Wednesday mornings — It’s a killer

I have been a member of the Levin JCC for about three years. When I joined, I was told that the facility was for everyone, including boomers and single adults. This was definitely not the case. The gym was reserved most of the weekdays for the Lerner School and often was rented out in the evenings to other school groups that had no relationship with the JCC. As a result, members could not use the gym for prime time basketball pickup games or classes (such as brisk walking since there is no track). The fitness room is essentially empty most of the day except for the early morning and early evening. (By the way, the machines are very dirty and dusty. It is evident that the staff is not cleaning them on a regular basis.)
Perhaps the most egregious issue has to do with the pool. When I first joined, the pool was open from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. for adult lap swimming only. The next two seasons, the pool was open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. for lap swimming. The remainder of the day, the pool was open for campers, children’s swim lessons, and general family swim. Only one lane was available for adults (trying having a relaxing lap swim with screaming kids in the pool!). Now, the JCC management has decided to completely do away with adult lap swimming in the morning. Instead, there is a swim team that practices from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. As a result, the entire pool is taken over all day by kids.
The JCC management has relinquished its right to state that the JCC is open to all. It is very obvious that the management has made a clear decision to cater to families and kids. There are virtually no efforts to meet the needs of the other members of the community (a few groups for older adults, a few lectures here and there, a few classes). Many adults enjoy swimming, and many can only exercise by swimming due to injury or other physical conditions. What right does the JCC have to take away a measly two hours in the morning for those of us who take a great deal of pleasure from swimming? After all, the pool is then open for an additional 12 hours a day for everyone else; i.e., the kids for various activities.
The JCC has a bulletin board and encourages people to write suggestions that will be placed on the board with the management’s responses. A number of us have written suggestions relating to the locker rooms, including the fact that they are never cleaned and that there are often pools of water on the floors when people come in from the pool. Yet, the only suggestions and responses posted on the bulletin board have to do with teens and children! Again, a blatant example of how adults are ignored and discriminated against at this facility.
The Levin JCC is being mismanaged and needs new people to staff the facility, people who truly believe in the mission of the JCC to serve all members of the community. Instead, it is being managed by several people who obviously either do not understand the mission of the JCC or choose to ignore it. They are doing a great harm to our community and are discriminating against a portion of the community that should have the same opportunity as everyone else to use and enjoy the facility.
My recommendation is to (1) get rid of the people who run the JCC, (2) find others who will adhere to the stated mission of the JCC, and (3) immediately implement programs that benefit people who are being ignored and discriminated against. These programs include opening the pool for the early morning adult lap swim from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., implementing adult programs for the fitness center and ensuring that the machines are clean and sanitary, using the gym for adult activities as well, and implementing significantly more adult activities.
Until then, I suggest that people do not join the JCC. There are plenty of other facilities that cater to the needs of adults and not just families with kids.

Love their facilities, it’s like a home away from home. Always seeing friends and neighbors, wonderful home-​baked goodies, fun teen lounge, beautiful pool & lounge area, and Camp Shelanu!

Excellent outdoor pool and fitness center with friendly employees. I also take advantage of the open gym for pick-​up basketball year round. Kid camps are excellent, especially the Lego themed, during the summer months and school holidays. Also a great kitchen for baked goods.

I brought a 3 month trial membership on one of the social coupon sites. I started working out in the gym and taking fitness classes 3 weeks ago. The gym is clean and has everything I need. The facility is beautiful and state of the art. There is always an instructor available in the gym which is very helpful. I have really enjoyed the classes too. The instructors are well trained and great instructors. I have a past injury and I’m able to complete the classes with the modifications given. I plan on joining as a full member.