Ransburg YMCA

I love this place. I grew up in the neighborhoods behind it, and always loved coming here as a kid. I remember going to day camps and soccer, learning to swim and play, and now working out and talking with the staff. The staff here have always been top notch, and the facilities are great too! They have a sauna and hot tub for adults in the mens and womens locker rooms, and a large work out area for adults too. Free weights, treadmills, machine weights, several classes, basketball and racketball courts, dance and aerobics studio, computer lab and lobby with a big TV, child care, indoor pool, and even a popular olympic size outdoor pool with volleyball courts, a splash pad, and a baby pool. My parents go here often, and I still tag along when I come home to visit! This place is awesome!

Three stars for facilities, five stars for staff, and it evens out to four stars total. I’ve been coming to the Ransburg Y for about 9 months since I found out that they have an outdoor pool that’s open during the summer.
This seems like an especially youth-​oriented Y (I mean, they all are, but this one in particular). There are always kids on the basketball courts and hanging out in the computer room, which is cool. The machines aren’t the newest but they work and it’s never too crowded.
I mostly go for the pool, being an ex-​swimmer who has only very recently come back around to waking up at the crack of dawn to get my workout in. Their indoor pool is a 4 lane, 20 yard affair that’s usually kept at around 83 – 84 degrees. It’s not ideal for lap swimming, but on the plus side if you go thinking it’s the standard 25 yards you’ll think you’re a total rockstar when you see the clock.
One big plus is the fact that lap swim isn’t crowded — I’ve never had to share my lane with anyone. I don’t think the outdoor pool is the standard 50 meters either but who really cares? It’s outside!