YMCA of Greater Rochester, Maplewood Branch Review

This place is advertised as a family place, but there's hardly anything for families to do together. I was able to go swimming in the pool with my son, but my son was very disappointed that he couldn't do anything else he wanted to do with me. He couldn't go in the hot tub with me. He couldn't go in the sauna with me. He couldn't even go in the weight room with me.

And speaking of the weight room, the place is a joke. Its like what a rich person would keep in their garage in case they can't make it to the gym. They don't even have a lot of basic equipment that a gym is supposed to have. The very first thing I do in my workout is chest fly's. Like many people, its one of my favorite exercises that I consider to be very important. But they don't even have a fly machine. Nor do they have a cable frame for me to do it on either. I went and asked the attendant if they had a fly machine, she said she had never heard of it before. She was just some young kid they had working there without any training or gym experience. It was pitiful.

And this place is not cheap either. Its more expensive than the gym I used to go to which was a real family gym that I could actually go and workout with my son in and sit in the sauna with him afterwards. I don't know why they call themselves a family place if children aren't allowed to do anything. And I don't know why they even bothered trying to have a weight room if they aren't going to do it right and give people a way to exercise every muscle.

Big applause for the cleaning staff. COVID rules make them the most important asset at the Y. An almost historic Y. They have done a pretty good job renovating the traditional building and adding on new sections. One of the most warm and clear Y pools I have ever been in. Locker room and showers are well maintained.

My late father and his brother were taught to swim there in the early 1930s by their father, who, alas, died in 1938 when my dad was only 12. I would like to come and see the place once we move back to Rochester. I ave no idea what it looked like back then as I have no photos, but who knows - maybe the Y office or a historical society does. Cheers.

Went to the "Fall Event" they had there and it was a total waste. Just about everything was rigged. Games duct taped to the wall and all. Nothing organized about it. "Face painting"....nope. Dancing....nope. Pizza was cold, chips were crumbs and for it to be a kids event there was nothing but tea and soda....who wants to give their kids all that caffeine? It was nothing like the flyer advertisement and even my 5 year old son was ready to leave because he said it was boring. I guess its one of those you get what you pay for situations.
3- s for effort

Completely refurbished Y, great staff who know you by name, friendly members, Lily Cafe Mon-Fri by Lifespan. Art gallery in Cafe. Particularly like yoga, pool, hot tub and cafe. Gymnasium, weight machines, treadmills. Youth programs too. Special family activities. Diverse population. Right near the spectacular lower Genesee River falls and across the street from the Maplewood Rose Gardens.

Maplewood YNCA is my favorite. Love the pool and fact that there is a hot tub for achy bodies.