Hamilton Recreation Center

(Review is for the swimming pool)
This recreation center has a great pool, with six 25-​yard lanes, a shallow kiddy pool and two water slides. I usually came on Saturday afternoon for lap swim, it rarely got crowded, at most two people sharing a lane. Also tried the recreation swim once, it was a bit awkward being an adult around kids actions. I got to try one of the two waterslides, while secretly longing for the other more exciting waterslide which I believe is kids only. They closed the waterslides prior to the end of recreation swim.
Shower and locker rooms were moderately clean, sometimes I found ‘surprise’ in the swimsuit wring machine or on the floor. I’d recommend bringing a lock for the locker for any valuables. The shower is motion sensor based, and definitely more on the «saving» side — it could be difficult to take a full shower, but I understand preserving water is higher priority for a public pool.
The down sides for me were the limited hours (closed on Sundays and last year closed for about 1.5 months for maintenance) and the motion activated shower. However, it’s certainly worth $ 6 max per entry.

Another great pool brought to us by SF Parks & Rec.
The Hamilton Recreation Center recently underwent a multi-​million dollar refurbishment and it shows: The pool is pristine, the rec rooms for basketball, ping pong and games are organized and well-​maintained and (I hear) the locker rooms are clean and beautiful– and thoughtfully designed with water conservation in mind.
(My child was at first confused how to use the showers as the shower heads have built-​in motion sensors).
And once again, it’s the fantastic Parks & Rec staff who makes these swim lessons a fun, learning experience for the children.
Small groups (this class has 6 children in it) guarantee lots of 1:1 attention.
I’m still amazed that such an outstanding program is so unbelievably affordable: It’s only $ 18 for five weekly, half hour swim lessons!
Financial aid is also available for this and all Parks & Rec programs.

brought the kids here so many times. Needs to maintain regulary.

The swimming pool at Hamilton Rec Center is amazing. Super clean, lots of windows and helpful staff. Its one of the best pools in the city!

Best place to go to if you need to get a quick workout in since the rec. center has its own fitness gym. It has a bench which can be renovated into a squat rack. Note: Always have someone to spot you when lifting weights etc. Overall as free weights and cardio machines go they work just quite fine. It isn’t an all out equipped 24 fitness center but it will do the work in getting you in shape. Another thing to mention is the availability times change so it’s best to ask right in front when open. Nights 6−7pm ish are best to workout and mornings are somewhat full.

Pool: Really nice and clean pool for $ 1! There was barely any people when i went too so that was a plus. There was also a life guard there at all times along with locker rooms.

Hamilton Pool was my second home for many years — I swam with the masters team and loved it. Things in my life changed and I stopped swimming with the masters team and eventually ended up in the East Bay in 2004 — but held onto a nearly new scrip card bought in 2002. I was told they never expire.
I tested that today — and had a swim at Hamilton. It’s changed a lot. For one thing, the pool is no longer 100′ (33 ¹⁄₃ yds) long but 25 yds. Not so happy about this change.
The water is cooler than the outdoor pool where I usually swim — I liked that, but there are fewer lanes and they are a bit narrower. Other than that — it was sort of the same… except: THE LOCKER ROOMS!
Wow — when did they get roomy clean lockers? Those locker rooms are so wildly different from the old locker rooms it’s hard to know where to start except to say THANK YOU FOR NOT CHEAPING OUT! I can actually put my helmet, boots, bag, motorcycle jacket & pants all in a single locker!
The showers are a mixed bag — motion activated, which is great for water conservation. However, you have to stand VERY close to the wall (eww, don’t touch it!) and the water doesn’t get very warm at all.
Fortunately, nobody was using the water slides or that could’ve gotten ugly.

NIce pool for bigger kids 6+
water was rather cold but for $ 1 a kid cant really complain
water slide was a hit
i’ll come again when both kids are bigger and weather or pool is warmer
changing rooms were clean w hot showers and tog dryers. love those things

This review is for the pool.
My 8m old is taking «Level A» swim classes. Signed up online, only 10 spots for the noon swim slot. I was nervous I wouldn’t get a spot but no issues signing up — $ 58, 10 weeks, ½ hr class.
I was surprised at how clean the pool, restrooms, women’s change room and showers were. Swim class starts on time, (I get there early for extra time in the water). The pool temp isn’t always warm but thankfully not unbearably cold. Lots of lockers — bring your own lock. There’s a swimsuit wring machine. Shower water always hot. Lifeguards always on post and very attentive.
The class —
Always two instructors in the water with us. We sing songs during each new activity. The entire class is centered around getting infants/​toddlers comfortable being in this new environment. There’s no pressure for your kid to become an Olympic swimmer at 8m old.
My biggest complaints — they need baby changing tables (at least 5 along the walls in change rooms). I can’t change my kid on the floor when it’s soaking wet. There are only two benches deep enough for «safe» infant changing. When class is over, there’s a long wait to use the two benches. Specifically because the seniors need to sit while changing their clothes. So in-​between them and a couple infants/​toddlers, it takes about half an hr to get out the change room. Further, when classes are in session, I wish they would keep the door that leads to the playground shut. The draft that comes in makes the pool area really cold.
If you’re not in a rush to head home, the playground is safe, modern and very clean. My girl loves to hang around after class to swing and play.

This review is for the Basketball gym.
It’s nice to have open gyms in the city, but compared to many others this is average. There is one full court or two smaller courts to run on. The only thing if you run the short way, is that one of the hoops is bent. It could get crowded at times, so just shooting around might not be an option. If I’m in the area, I will play here, but there are nicer gyms in the city as well.

Definitely cannot beat $ 1 swim for kids with the awesome water slide (s)! Nice clean facility, friendly staff, attentive lifeguards… It’s a bummer that the waterslides are only open for very limited hours, but understandable considering all the many activities that have to fit in to the schedule.

Great place!!! The group has been here for some of the potluck game nights. I haven’t done anything else here though, a very nice facility.

I went for a swim here for the first time today, and totally loved it.
For $ 5 at a public pool I was expecting everything to be a bit run down and stinky. But instead everything is nice and clean. The pool has one end that is deeper which is really nice for those who dive. Lanes were not crowded around lunch time. I had to share a lane which is not a big deal. Water temperature was perfect and not too chlorinated. Locker room and shower nice and clean. Shower has a weird sensor control that is a bit too sensitive, but no big deal.
I think I’ll start going more often. I can’t believe wasted two years living in the neighborhood without trying this one out!

I went by here this morning as a volunteer for a fund-​raising event so I used the opportunity to inspect this newly renovated pool.
I was very impressed. The water was warm and not highly chlorinated. The locker room and showers were neat and clean.
I definitely want to return and try the pool for myself.

For $ 5 a swim, I’d say the Hamilton Rec Center is a great alternative to people not wanting to drop $ 70/​month to swim at some high end training facility. However, while the price is right, there are a few things that the center could improve on. For instance, I don’t particularly care for the staff; they seem so removed from their posts and really just could not care less about the pool. Sometimes people crowd the pool during lap swim and the lifeguards don’t do anything about it. Makes lap swimming incredibly inconvenient. Families bring their children during lap swim to try and give them swimming lessons.
I would recommend wearing sandals in the locker room as it’s usually pretty disgusting. The showers don’t work properly and the doors don’t lock properly. Bring a lock or say goodbye to your personals.

I can only provide my opinion on the aquatic facilities.
Staff — very friendly, especially early in the morning.
Pool — water was the perfect temperature for laps, not too crowded, clean and only $ 5.
Change Rooms — have to be buzzed in (which made me feel safe), clean but the swimsuit spinner was out of order (not the end of the world).
All in all great place to swim. And, if you are a kid there are 2 really cool looking water slides.

After a stint at UCSF, I started going to the Hamilton pool since $ 5 /​day beats $ 15 (as much as I loooooove the UCSF pools…). I would say it’s 90% as good for 33% the price, which is a win.
The pool has recently been remodeled, so it’s quite nice and very clean & well-​cared for. I go 6 – 7 am Monday Wednesday Friday, when there are six full lanes open for lap swimming, which is actually an improvement over UCSF’s three. I have had to split a lane a few times (totally fine) & not once had to circle swim. The laps are usually labeled with cones as ‘fast,’ medium,’ & ‘slow’ so that if you have to share a lane people know where they should join. The water is not quite as warm as UCSF, but it’s still comfortable, especially after a few minutes of swimming.
The locker rooms are clean & well taken care of & there are lots of available lockers. You have to be buzzed in to the locker rooms by the front desk attendant, so I always feel like my stuff & I are safe. My only reason for giving it four stars instead of five is that the showers are sensor activated & there is no temperature control. The sensor means that you pretty much have to stand *right up against the wall* to keep the water going; move half an inch too far, & it cuts off. This can make bathing tricky. The water is usually ice cold when it first comes out, so you have to kind of stand back & hold your hand over the sensor until it starts to warm up. (Once it does, though, it’s perfectly comfortable.) I haven’t noticed anything sketchy about the showers, but as with any other public shower area, I still wear flip flops.
Oh, and be sure to bring exact change! You have to drop your money in a little slot at the front desk.

Basketball courts are nice but it’s pretty windy around here.
No water fountains outdoors here at the courts, field or playground so bring a bottle.

I bring my 1-​year-​old to the playground at the Hamilton Rec Center every now and then.
The playground is perfectly nice, it’s separated into big kid vs. small kid areas (although the kids don’t necessarily segregate themselves as intended), and it’s reasonably new since the whole center was renovated a couple years back.

Have you seen the water slides inside this place?
They’re epic looking.
As a kid, being the water child that I was, I would have killed for the opportunity to clumsily propel myself down those chutes.
Have you played late night HORSE here on their basketball courts? There’s no one around. The courts are yours and watching your shot go in, nothing but net, underneath the moon’s glow — is something else. (oh and only try this — if you’re nice and quiet — so as to be respectful of sleeping neighbors)
Have you played on the tennis courts yet?
Free (I believe) and in the midst of the city. Banging balls over the net — as cars cruise by.
Hamilton Recreation Center — may not be perfect — but it exists for the community. It’s a resource that was built for the public — and I find it hard to hate on something — that’s sole purpose is to help make athletic activities — like swimming, basketball, and tennis — more accessible to San Francisco locals.
Trust.