Terra Linda Community Center & Pool

While my kids love this place, they need to install more shade structures or umbrellas.

This place has changed way too much. It has become a breeding ground for self entitled terra linda dorks. The lifeguard girls are completely incompetent and have no common courtesy or manors. Let’s be honest. This job does not require a degree and it’s mind boggling how many guys in locker room have shared bad experiences about some of these girls. Im very disappointed about what this community is turning into and how unprofessional these employees have become. I know they are just kids but common.

Changing rooms are old and dirty. I guess the rusted cubbies have been there since the pool first opened.
The diving board doesn’t exist anymore.
The only thing you can bring in this pool is your goggles: no fins, nothing to drop at the bottom of the pool, no board… Everything is forbidden specially if you are a kid.
At least, 70% of the pool is taken by the swim team (they can use any tools they want) every evening. You can’t use any device to teach your kid how to swim: only swim teacher can.
Kids can use the pool only 75% of the time since there is a 15 minutes adults swim only every hour: the pool is empty during those 15 minutes
If you dare complain, the responsible of the pool is ready to reimburse you and tells you that if you’re not happy you can go somewhere else.
Bottom line: this is an ok pool for tourists, not a community pool.

This review is for the Community Center and not so much the pool.
My kids go to the pool with their preschool and love it, however, I’ve never been to this pool. You’ve gotta hand it to any pool that invites entire preschools, though! :)
I just want to write a review about the Community Center office, specifically Dianne. For those of you who don’t know, the Community Center handles booking for everything associated with the Hamilton Pool. Swim lessons, birthday parties, etc. Dianne has shown my family phenomenal above and beyond service in accommodating our needs with both birthday parties and swim lessons. Repeatedly, she has helped us out and made arrangements to fit our family’s needs.
I just felt the need to pat her on the back and acknowledge her wonderful service!
Emily

I have been going to this pool for 5 years with all my family, but yesterday was the last time we are moving to some other pool. The place itself is ok but personal that is working there is terrible. The are no adults on duty and the kids have no idea how to manage the facilities. Very disappointed last couple times, not going to go there anymore.

I really want to love this pool, but there are definitely better options out there.
First, some positive things about this place:
1. Baby pool is very fun and self-​entertaining for non swimmers up to 6 years. There is a beach entry and a few fountain sprayers to play with. It is also easy to keep an eye on your kids in the main pool and the baby pool.
2. The diving board is pretty sweet for kids and adults.
3. The Terra Linda Orcas is a wonderful local swim team that practices here. We have been a part of the team for 5 years and have nothing but nice things to say about it.
4. At the end of a long day swimming you can walk across the street to the shopping center where there is a market to pick up things for dinner, or you can eat out at a number of restaurants.
Why we don’t get a season pass:
This pool is clean? Maybe if you show up when it first opens, but even though the grounds have been remodeled recently, it still feels a little old. There are some grassy areas, but there always seem to be traces of food everywhere, especially around the baby pool. Last year, I went to this pool a handful of times (maybe 10) and 2 of those times, they had «brown outs» (i.e. poo in the pool) — once in the main pool, and once in the baby pool. Unless it is an overcast day, this pool is packed (um, who knows how long that poo was in the pool until they spotted it…)! On the weekends, it is families; on the weekdays, I’ve seen busloads of kids dropped off for the day with their camp or daycare. There is a huge inflatable obstacle course that they install in the middle of the pool. While my kids love this thing, I hate it because it blocks my view of my kids if they decide to swim on the other side of it.
The long and short of it is that this place gets busy, and when there is a crowd it is more likely to feel scuzzy, more likely for «an incident» (e.g. poo), and more likely to feel not safe (e.g. easy to watch your peeps.)

Terra Linda Community Pool is a nice place with a big pool and a little children area.
The main pool is quite large and there with a deep part.
There are also some chair and some table.
There are also place for sit and for towel!
Nice place=)
the price for non resident is 9 for adult and 7 for the kids!

We have driven from Berkeley to this pool a number of times throughout the summer, in spite of the bridge toll and distance, because San Rafael is so consistently warm and sunny. The pool is great for little toddlers and preschoolers who don’t swim well, becuase it has a separate, totally enclosed pool a foot or so deep (if you can keep the kid in that pool). I haven’t seen it obnoxiously crowded, but to get a chair maybe get in earlier, but sitting on the grass is very nice too. Other parents are very friendly and the staff is as well.

This is a great pool. Not only is it large and clean, there are plenty of place to sit or put your towel down. During the hot days they have a fun inflatable obstacle course for the older kids.
The tot pool is nice and has sprayers to keep the little ones entertained.
In the summer we come here about once a week!

Best public pool facility in San Rafael. Bigger than Marinwood and Lucas Valley, plenty of grass space, free lawn chairs, and close to restaurants and food just across the street. Ample free parking in two different lots, as well as street parking nearby. If you are a resident of San Rafael, make sure to bring your driver’s license for a resident discount.

I love to frequent local businesses. I have been using this cleaners for years. The owner is a delightful man and always gives me his full attention. He stands behind his work and always has a smile! His alterations are wonderful, too!

In an effort to have «summer», I’m trying out a bunch of pools near foggy & cold SF. This was the first stop, and it was a good one. There are grassy areas to spread out and some lounge chairs. There are a bunch of kids here, but I don’t think it’s overwhelmingly kid-​focussed. The locker rooms are totally utilitarian and not so great, but the pool and pool area are big and nice. The only downside is that they close at 6pm on weekends.

Thanks to my friend Nessa again for introducing me to another great spot. We came here this past weekend to get away from the fog, and actually found the sun! We grabbed a couple of lounge chairs, an umbrella, and enjoyed the beautiful day. My daughter loved the kiddy pool and fountains and there’s also a small playground.
There is a large grassy area with trees for shade, and bbqs. We will be back again on the next gloomy S.F. day.

Always take my sweaters and trousers here to get them dry cleaned and/​or pressed. Great no nonsense service from the head gentleman. Good turn around time as well. Can drop off Tuesday, and it’s done by Friday. Really great to have a place so close to home with out having to get on the freeway.

Clean for a «community» pool. There is an abundance of chairs and tables to put your stuff on.
If you are a San Rafael resident, it is only $ 5 to get in. I don’t know how much it is for non-​San Rafael residents.
The people who work here are A&F looking kids who are nice and laid back.
I don’t think I would come here again just because the «center» looks kind of old and worn out.