Lakewood Family YMCA

By no means am I a fitness/​gym expert or have a ton of knowledge about various kids programs. From my current experience here I’ve had nothing but a positive experience in the areas that matter.
I have a 2 year old son who currently is taking swim classes. The teacher is very patient and understanding toward each child. She tries to accommodate each child and their personalities. He’s also enrolled Ina gymnastics class that he appears to love. He gets ready and runs into the gym for both classes.
Personally I use their workout rooms and have been meaning to join some classes. I set up an appointment with a Y staff member and he promptly and efficiently assessed what my needs are to get in shape. As we’ve gone he’s adjusted the workload accordingly. If he’s not available other staff members often will answer questions and check form. Which is a big plus.
As far as activities my son has only participated in the Halloween parade. The hour of gymnastics followed by a walk through the Y was very well done. Treats given were a variety and not all were candy based. It was very well organized and the kids weren’t backed up trying to get to the same place.
The nursery has also been great. My son is more than willing to go in and chill with the caregivers in there. They say he’s been good and they’re able to get him to clean up after himself.
Café just opened, but it could use some improvement. Drinks are inconsistent and the variety of snacks aren’t all that great. It’s something that with time it might get better, but more planning should have gone into before opening. This café isn’t a detractor, just something that could have potential if managed right.
Only thing that I think could be improved upon is members cleaning equipment after use. That has to start with the members. Unfortunately employees can’t monitor everything, nor should they be held accountable for adults behavior.
It’s nice to know there is a place with so many activities available for the young to elderly. Staff and members alike have very pleasant mindset which makes coming here worth it.

My daughter is 3 and has ballet & swim lessons at this location.
PRESCHOOL BALLET (ages 3 – 4): My daughter absolutely loves her ballet classes. She has attended two separate ballet registrations here. Its $ 17 for 5 classes. Classes for this age group are 30 minutes. Her current class has a different teacher then her last class did, which I actually like because they have different teaching styles so the kids are able to learn a wider spectrum of skills. Each class has about 9 kids. Both of the teachers are very patient for dealing with a group of toddler girls. They also hold recitals for the girls at the end of the class, but you have to sign up for them at the same time that you register for the class.
SUPER PIKE SWIM LESSONS (ages 3 – 5): I just got off the phone with the swimming lessons coordinator & immediately came on here to write this review because she was absolutely AWESOME! First let me tell you that I put my daughter into the wrong swim class. The Super Pike class is for kids that are a little more advanced in their swimming skills (not afraid of water, can dunk head in water, etc). There is also a Pike class that is for the same age group but not so advanced. When I signed my daughter up I knew she might not be fully ready for the Super Pike class but it was the only swimming class available so I thought we would give it a try. On her first day of swimming lessons & her swim teacher let me know that she wasnt ready for that class. I called today to see if I could get her switched over to a regular Pike class. I left a voice mail with the swimming lessons coordinator. She called me back within ten minutes. She immediately apologized that my daughters swim teacher had told me that my daughter wasnt ready for that class & that she needed to be moved (which she wasnt rude about and I did agree with her), she then told me that there were no Pike classes open to move my daughter to BUT she is going to talk to my daughters swim teacher and make sure that she practices the «Pike» swimming structure instead of the «Super Pike» that way my daughter can learn at the right place. I am so thrilled that they can be flexible and that I dont have to take my daughter out of swimming lessons. To me that is awesome customer service. Thank you swimming coordinator Krista!

I joined about 3 months ago and I go 5 to 7 times a week, I have not ever seen it that crowded never had to wait for any equipment yet, always looks clean and rarely see any machine out of order. Has everything I could want. Over all I have never had a bad experience there, it’s a good place to work out!

I dread working out at this YMCA! It’s always crowded! There isn’t wifi so I can watch Netflix on my iPad to stay motivated doing cardio. It wouldn’t be as bad if they didn’t just have ten channels on their TVs but almost all of them are news channels or infomercials. This is the only YMCA I’ve been to where they don’t supply actual towels so members can wipe down their machines. Instead they give you super compostable paper towels that disintegrate after you apply they cleaning chemical provided. But hardly any one properly wipes down their machines. I wish they’d do a study amount ymcas to see which is the cleanest because this one would probably be in the red.
Also, I swear every time I use the ladies restroom the handicapped toilet is leaking into all the stalls but I guess the maintenance doesn’t think it’s a big issue because there’s a drain that drains it conveniently in between the stalls. so hopefully you don’t have to pack your shoes up before you go home after using those.
I think the only part of this YMCA I do like is the pool. That’s the only reason this place deserves a star.
This gym really needs to revamp itself! They might’ve added some new paint but overall it’s a disgrace to the YMCA name. I highly recommend that if you’re close to this Y, then go to either the Mel korum YMCA in puyallup or the tacoma center YMCA if you don’t have kids. Overall better facilities!!!

I like this location and used to come in 4 – 5 times a week before I injured both of my feet. I came in ⁹⁄₂₉ to put my account on hold and was told I could only put it on hold for a month since I had already had it on hold through the summer. I was our of the country all summer and… really? I have a medical reason for holding my account. I feel pain when I walk, and not just an ache. The doctor told me to rest my feet, ice, etc., or I could develop bone spurs.
Tiffany was fast and did take me to the front of the line when I had to go move my car and come back in. However, I did not appreciate her condescending attitude. I’m sorry I can’t remember your ymca policy of notifying by the 25^th but I have a lot more to take care of then my gym membership. Also, I don’t work here and don’t know every policy from talking to customers day in an day out.
Back to the condescending part… I asked her when my hold terminated (since she had told me about the 25^th policy I wasn’t sure if she held October or couldn’t due to my lateness and instead held November) and she gave me a hideous look that suggested I was a complete moron.
Have a nice day, lady, and next time remember that you’re here to help customers and not to make them feel awful for asking a question or for apparently wasting your time. Maybe you were having a bad day, but thanks for darkening mine.

BEWARE/​WARNING about child swim classes. If you have an age 2 – 4 year old child certain instructors will gain their trust THEN tell them to hold their breath and waterboard them… shock dunk/​emerge them head down and into the water and ever ounce of trust for the teacher, water, and swimming is forever broken. My daughter is deathly afraid of water and it was just her 2^nd lesson at almost 4 years old. It was absolutely heartbreaking and infuriating. And the staff wont do much about your complaints. You are just left with a forever traumatized child. More details email me

I think, that the large pool is so much cleaner than the ones on the military posts, that I have been to. It is even cleaner than the one in Tacoma. The showers need some updating, but that is all I can think of right now. I really like the size of the pool, and I never had any problems with the staff, as far as manners go. I hope it stays this way. I am glad, that such system is in place. I live in an apartment complex, that has a pool, but I would never want to go in there, it just does not look clean at all with a bunch of people jumping into a tiny pool. It is like swimming inside a toilet or being in the Puget Sound… Well, I am glad, that I am a member at the Y, I only use the pool portion though. So that is what this is for, as far as the review.

I was very disappointed with this YMCA. The gym equipment is out of date. Old. It has a claustrophobic feel to it. I didn’t stay long due to a smell that was making me feel ill. The gym is not very sanitary. I didn’t see one member clean the equipment after they used it the whole time I was there.

Oh the list of complaints I have for this facility are endless.
1. Rude lifeguards and rude staff across the board.
2.Disgusting old and outdated in every regards.
3. Pool had no separate section for those who wanted to swim and was completely taken over by a class.
4. Nobody wanted to answer my questions where things where.
5. I have seen and been to better YMCA’s ahem try Mc Korem in Puyallup.
6. Locker room showers have no hot water.
7. Pool was so over cholorinated.

Wonderful classes. But management needs alot of work. My husband was profiled as a pedophile while waiting for his daughter in swim classes cus he was looking at cnn on his phone even though 10 others were doing the same exact thing. And on a seperate occasion I was harassed and called out not only 1 time after already coming to an agreement with another lifeguard to photograph my child. I had a special lens to make sure no other kid got in the scene and told the 1^st lifeguard and they were ok with it. Then since the lifeguards dont have anything better to do another lifeguard decided to yell at me from across the pool and I had to yell back that I already talked to management. Then I was harassed 2 more times. the same lady that harrased my husband on a separate occasion harassed me on this occasion and she was part of the management. What’s the point if I cant photograph my child like the tons of other moms that have photographed their kids on your ymca fb page or the other moms/​dads there doing the same exact thing and wasn’t called out. Technology has changed with the times and as long as im not getting other children in my shot I should be able to photograph the wonderful memories I have with MY child. Other places allow it and there are TONS of pictures on your Facebook of other moms pictures that DO have the other parents children in the photo without their permission. I felt isolated rediculed and embarrassed and I almost want to pull my membership due to this horrible experience both me and my husband have had.

Really nice Y with lots of classes and activities, but very crowded most of the time. If you don’t mind a few people around, they will have most anything you are looking for in basic fitness. They also offer a ton of swimming lessons that are great for all ages.

Disclaimer: I’m totally basing this review on the staff I’ve met. Very friendly and inviting upon entrance. Besides the front desk people, I’ve met the director, Clayton, who’s hospitable and is a good listener; he’s very aware of the mission of the Y and its connection to the community. I’ve also met the manager of the Forza coffee shop inside. She is also friendly, creating a place where people want to hang out before or after their workout.

This Y is amazing. I’ve never had a problem with the children’s programs — my daughter LOVES them and always gets so excited to come to the Y, even if she’s just going into the nursery! They take babies as young as 6 weeks (most gyms don’t take babies until their 6 months) and the staff are amazing with kids. My daughter is now 3 and actually asks me if we can go! How can I say no? And it motivates me to go work out!
As for the classes, they are what you make of it. There is a HUGE variety of classes offered, more so than at a lot of local gyms. The staff is great and there is so much to choose from!

How can you not support an organization like The Y and its mission for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility? The Lakewood Y is centrally located (and your membership is good for any Pierce/​Kitsap branch), and is the only gym in a 10 mile radius that has a lap pool, indoor track, full basketball court, racquetball, and a full group fitness schedule with a variety of instructors from Power Yoga, Pilates, even Belly Dancing. The directors work for their members, adding class times and offerings based on your input! And as of January 2011, they have BRAND NEW machines! The free weight room is like a new heaven… bright, clean, and user-​friendly. While you might pay $ 10 more per month in dues compared to a competitor, you can apply for financial assistance and get a fair deal. ~~~Did I mention NEW WEIGHT ROOM? Get some!~~~

So, since first being involved with this location since last summer, not only has the management of this YMCA has decided that:
1. New classes should be un~offered after the first week of offering {thus preventing ANY members from signing up or attending the class, ever}
2. Communication/​relevant information really isn’t THAT important. Just give them your money, & you’ll get your answers soon enough!
3. Children’s programs evidently start once a year… in the SUMMER. So don’t even bother signing up in the winter or spring, because your child won’t be accepted into the class until a later season. Your money can stay though. Hot!
4. You can only sign up in a 4 or 5 day period, anything else~ financial assistance or new membership issues need to be cleared AGES before this… have fun with that…
5. AND, they have evidently paid Unilocal to remove *ALL* of the reviews written {mostly about how wild it gets afternoon~evening hours, bad parking sitches, and wild children on the loose}!
Wow. I feel bad for the decent staff members who I’ve met, They rock. You guys deserve better.
And by the way YMCA, don’t bother deleting this one too… I’ve already saved and ready to repost when that happens~ Just spend the money on hiring someone to organize your internal information & management. ‘K thnx, bai.