Upper Main Line YMCA

I came here last week with my mom. This place is huge! When you come in, you walk the length of the building to get to the stairwell. First floor is indoor pool and stairway to get to locker rooms (opposite end of the hall). Second floor was individual class rooms (dance studio etc) and third floor was the wellness center (a.k.a. room with all the regular gym equipment).
Although the parking lot was still pretty full, considering they were an hour away from closing, everyone was pretty spread out, so it didn’t feel that crowded. I saw multiple people trying to figure out how to get here or there, so it can be confusing trying to find the room you’re looking for.
The crowd seemed to be pretty mixed; I saw everyone from teenagers to seniors and everyone was just doing their thing and keeping focused on their workout.

This place scarred me as a child. I will never send my children to camp based on my experiences there every summer from age 6 to 13

This is what happens when a health club tries to do too much, and tries to please everybody (and ends up pleasing nobody). All those different facilities (tennis, pools, kid stuff…) mean the place is often packed.
Don’t bother with the treadmill; the parking lot is so crowded you’ll probably get a long walk just to get inside. Part of the problem is all the special promotions in which non-​members crowd out actual members.
The physical plant is OK. The problem is the classes. The instructors are poorly supervised; each does her own thing. Find a class you like and then somebody else shows up and it’s completely different. No quality control, training or supervision. When one instructor subs for another, she often walks in and admits she knows nothing about this type of workout (cardio, pilates, yoga or whatever) but acts like it doesn’t matter.
The target market is clearly families with kids. If that’s not you, forget it. If you are looking for a particular type of work out and don’t need everything in one place, there are better (less crowded) options.

A great place for the kids to burn energy and for teens to develop healthy habits. For adults, well it’s a bit like attending a kiddie summer camp. Great facilities, but getting full use of the facilities can be difficult what with all the scheduled activities for the kids. If you you have kids, you’ll love it. If you don’t, well look elsewhere to workout (unless you absolutely require a pool). And it’s a bit pricey unless you have a family plan (and a large family). But like many Y’s they have special considerations for low income families. Of course most of the kids will be dropped off in Beamers, Range Rovers, and other luxury cars; it is the Main Line after all and this too is a place to make impression. Sigh.

I love this place!
Tennis courts, up to 6 swimming pools, group classes, kid stuff, multiple locker rooms, family changing rooms, lots of parking, nice staff, clean, well kept, lots of cardio equipment, the list goes on and on.
I think it’s a great value for the cost.
More about the pools (my favorite):
One very warm indoor 25 yd pool good for small kids and water aerobics type things.
One cool indoor 25 yd for more intense workouts.
One pool that is either indoor or outdoor depending on the weather. 25 yd.
In the early spring they open an outdoor heated 50 meter pool.
In the summer there is a wading pool for little kids, and a fun outdoor pool for bigger kids.

On the surface, the Upper Main Line YMCA is a class act — lots of tennis, pools, exercise options, and activities. It is also more expensive than other Ys, but worth it for individuals and families.
However, it has been poorly managed and inadequately maintained. Recent leadership and staff changes may lead to improvements, but it’s too early to tell.