I think ppl went to UES pool. This is why this pool is empty recently. There's no time regulation, no broken lockers, pretty laidback vibes. I highly recommend. one block from E23st /1st ave Starbucks. it's next to FDR. read more

Great pool which is hardly ever crowded. The locker room is roomy and kept clean. Even though the showers themselves are cold and bad, there are private shower and dressing stalls available. Large, clean weights/workout equipment room with machines that are in very good condition. Just a heads up, they do not have a computer room or an indoor gymnasium at this center. read more

DISGUSTING. Roaches in lockers, broken exercise machines, some members smell so badly it could singe your nose hairs, men hog the machines--lots of phone use instead of leaving the machine, they act as if it's their personal office. The piece du resistance? Caught a few of the older men checking out my crotch! read more

Terrible. The pool's locker room is horrible. THEY ALLOW MEN IN THE WOMEN'S ROOM, this Is disgusting, children were in the locker room. Entire place is dark, no good lighting. COLD SHOWERS TOO. DEFINITELY find another place that respects women and has warm showers. read more

Not a fancy gym but if you are looking basic work our for a price you can't beat this gym. Very good for older adults. Classes are suitable for 50 year olds and up Members are friendly then most fancy gyms. Pickleball sessions are lots of fun. This place feels more like a community than a young hip fancy gym. read more

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: The Good: -REALLY affordable. I'm talking 75 for 6 months, 150 for a year for adults ages 25 and up. Free for kids and teenagers and even cheaper for senior citizens and former military. SIDE NOTE: All NYC rec centers with indoor pools are more expensive than those without. -Lots of classes of all kinds. Art, senior movement, fitness, pool tables, ping pong, the list goes on. -A decent pool and good sized gym with lots of equipment. A nice studio/multi-purpose room. -Good group of people -As far as gym goes for a rec center, this place is one of the best spots I've lifted in. There's tons of dumbbells, machines, two top-of-the-line squats racks, lots of benches, apparatuses for machines, etc. For the money you pay, you can get some serious work in. I can get as much as a workout here as I can at any fancy, schmancy gym. The Bad: -From my experience the staff can be hit or miss. Not particularly friendly but not outright assholes either. Then you have those who are very friendly and cordial. Not particular a bad thing but if I had to put a bad thing down. -A lot of the gym equipment can sometimes be outdated or not in use. GRANTED, they have recently made some nice updates, so there's even more room and more, up-to-date equipment in the gym. -The scheduling can be a little annoying sometimes. Again, not a bad thing but annoying. For instance, there's times I want to use the multi-studio room but there's days when I go when its listed as there being no classes in the room, there ends up being a class. Stupid things like that. The Ugly: -This place is not the prettiest place, aesthetically. It's definitely not the ugliest place I've ever been too and personally, I don't give a damn. I give a damn about getting my workout in and that's all. However, if aesthetics are a big deal for you, then this is not going to cut it. Yes, there's other rec centers that are brighter, prettier, more colorful than this rather darker, danker place but again, you come here to work out. If you need pretty, its definitely not pretty but its "Aight". End Game: You CANNOT go wrong with this place, truthfully. For the amount of money you pay, you really can't go wrong. "It pays for itself". No losing with this place. read more

I finally checked out the Asser Levy pool today and was pleasantly surprised how clean, comfortable, spacious, and overall great this recreation center is! Of all the NYC recreation centers I've been so far (Recreation 54 and Gertrude Ederle are the other two) this one definitely has the best lockers room/ showers experience: there are private changing booths, shower booths with enough room to comfortably put all your stuff. Everything looks clean and doesn't leave you with that yucky feeling you sometimes get in public showers. The pool itself is very decent: it is 22 yards, has three lanes (medium, fast, slow), and is good enough for a decent swim. The only thing is that it has stairs in every corner, so the side lanes are not great for turns. The staff is friendly and happy to help a newcomer. I went between 1 and 2 pm on a weekday, and it was pretty busy: 4 people in each lane. read more

i had a good time at the pool here. the staff were super helpful and kind. however, only ONE staff member was extremely unprofessional. my boyfriend and i had packed only one towel in haste, and had gained permission to use the family changing area for a few minutes. we'd gotten out of the pool a bit early, as we found out that the cleaning period started at 2:45. after a few minutes, the staff member opened the door and barged in (the door can close, but wont lock) and told us to hurry up,and i told her that i was almost done getting dressed and was taking a little while because i had showered. she left, but after a few seconds she came all the way in and proceeded to say "i hope you guys arent smoking in here"- which we most definitely were not. extremely uncalled for, and unprofessional. there was no sort of smell at all, and she had also quite literally looked in on me in my undergarments. we obviously weren't doing anything of the sort. after she left the room, she began to mumble to herself loudly. i dont remember exactly what she said, since i was upset that she walked in on me barely clothed, but she was cursing to herself about us and said "fucking"twice. i also observed her being rude to other patrons, frowning and speaking unnecessarily loud. i will probably go to the pool again, but i hope that i dont see her. truly messed up my experience. aside from her, every other staff member was so nice!! read more

This review is solely for the weight room of Asser Levy, because I have never used the pool! If you're looking for a fancy gym with bright lights, pumping music and top-of-the-line machines, you will not like Asser Levy. However, it really does have everything you need - Tons of cardio machines considering the size, dumbbells (although mostly unlabeled and some are missing), barbells, squat rack, leg press, smith machine, a couple cable machines, lat pulldowns, leg extension, leg curl, abductor/adductor machine, incline decline and flat bench, and a few other machines. There is a stretching sections and they also have foam rollers and some other fitness equipment (mats, steps). Ummm, considering the price of this place, that is an amazing variety of equipment, and if you can't get a good workout from that, stop being a diva! Like most gyms, Asser Levy has it's "rush hour"s (I would say about 5-6pm on weekdays) where you may have to wait to use the machine you want or hunt for a good spot to set up. Aim to get to the gym in the early mornings if you can! Not only does Asser Levy have all the equipment you need, but it also has an amazing community. I like to say people here have "no filter" - they will come up to you and say whatever they feel like saying, and for the most part, everybody is very supportive and friendly. This gym is full of really strong and impressive lifters, but none of them are stuck up jerks. There is no better motivation to go to the gym than to be surrounded by people who are always happy and helpful. You may not be impressed by the aesthetics of Asser Levy when you first come here, but it will grow on you and you will start to have fun meeting some very interesting/quirky people! read more

The indoor pool is beautiful, featuring a fountain and skylights. The outdoor pools, open July through Labor Day, is clean and serviceable. Asser Levy also has basketball courts, a playground and an Arts and Crafts room. And it's fun to say "Asser Levy." The 2 outdoor pools are free. Membership for the indoor pool (and other recreation center benefits) is $50/year for adults, $10/year for seniors, and free for kids and teens under 18. Recreation center hours are Mon-Fri 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sat. and Sun. 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Outdoor pool hours are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. read more

I have the privilege of being a member of Asser Levy for over 15 years, I especially love the pool and most of your staff. When I was among the crowd that came in this morning, I put down my Baruch College backpack and someone must have immediately swiped it WITH my lock, new goggles, tissues and comb.. I did have the key to my now missing lock and your thoughtful worker Bernice generously lent me her lock and key. Yesterday the pool was freezing, but fortunately it warmed up somewhat today. Kudos to your whole staff. Marion A read more

It's a huge gym considering it's only $75 a year. There is a lot of gym equipment, about 10 treadmills, 5 cardio bikes, 2 spin bikes, 1 hand bike, and 2 steppers (all this is from memory, so excuse me if my numbers are off). There are 2 pools, an indoor and an outdoor. The reason they aren't getting the last star is because there is no place to do some semi-private training. I wanted to jump rope and maybe do some partner exercises, like side jumping or fireman lifts and squats. There is a room that is for classes, but they don't let anyone else use it. There are 2 pool tables, 2 Foosball tables and a ping pong table in the lobby. Kids under 18 get a free year's membership. read more

If you're like me, you run a few miles on the treadmill, work some of those thigh and calf machines, and use the free weights for a bit- you'd be a fool to pay more at the bigger chains for the same equipment. Also, if you're like me, you told yourself you'd totally take advantage of all those neat classes NYSC has to offer, dance, Pilates, spinning- but you did not. You surely did not. However, if you go to the gym for an "experience," to hang out amongst Beautiful people, chat on the cellie, and watch those mini personal tvs while you get your fitness on, then NY P & R is surely not for you. For moi, the gym is just that Place where I go to reverse yesterday's bottle (and a half) of wine, cheese, pasta, what have you. In and Out, all business. I love my membership here and would not go back to paying $100+ a month at NYSC in a million years. Even my $35/month membership at Synergy is old news, now that I'm paying $75 A YEAR at NYC Parks and Recreation! There is no catch, it's just that cheap. There's even indoor or outdoor pools at most locations. I suspect the quality of the facilities vary somewhat depending on the location (the location in Harlem is small and a bit smelly) but the one near me at 23rd and FDR Drive is actually quite clean/spacious/not that outdated. And the one in Chelsea has a few studios where your hip-hop crew can practice your dance routines, do your yoga in peace, etc. But it really depends on what you expect out of a gym and whether or not it's worth it to you to pay more. The hours are not unreasonable, they're open from 6:30 to 9:30 everyday but closed on Sundays. And waiting for machines is a non-issue (at least in the Asser Levy location- Chelsea can get crowded)- only once have I had to wait for a treadmill and the process was quite efficient. The dude calls out your name from the list that you've written down when it's time, so you can go do other stuff instead of just standing there in line. As you have guessed by now, there is no frills or amenities, no smoothie cafe, no merchandise for sale. Back to basics, people- less is more, now stop dilly-dallying and go break a sweat! For all my intensive purposes, I'm totally satisfied with this gym- it gets the job done and I got the pictures to prove it. read more

I have never been incarcerated, but this place sometimes makes me feel like I'm doing time... until I see kids playing Foosball, ping pong and billiards in the front. We've come a long way from Equinox, Toto. Wait, I still have money in my pocket. Gyms can not be measured and the same scale. And I have some experience with just a few gyms (I did NYSC too but was too lazy to review it) Equinox - Gray Bar http://www.yelp.com/biz/equinox-fitness-new-york-14#hrid:E-fwPZblyqV5GIJ_lkYbMg Bally's - Coop City http://www.yelp.com/biz/bally-total-fitness-bronx#hrid:HmLn53Ll4TBZT9wsQyRa2A Bally's - Penn Station http://www.yelp.com/biz/bally-total-fitness-new-york-6#hrid:IGG2EzSIEsGmf57w-uHRRg Bally's - Biltmore http://www.yelp.com/biz/bally-total-fitness-new-york-5#hrid:S4Hx_VsGaZAa6TQlNlDCmg Yes its only $150 a year (price doubled from 75 in 2011). Thank you NY City Parks and Recreation. Thank you Mayor Bloomberg for keeping this together. Asser Levy Recreation Center has such a sterile feeling but it is a neighborhood gym that has the basics. That's all I need. I don't need the potpourri scents and the wonderful hotel shower items. I can't comment on the classes because I haven't taken any of them. I come in weekday mornings and it's great to work out. It's even better during inclement weather. Nobody shows up. Tuesday nights are ladies nights, so I can't show up to hit the exercise room. Men's nights are Thursdays. The indoor pool has 3 lanes for laps. During the summer, the indoor pool closes and the outdoor pool opens. The outdoor pool is free. If you sign up, swim 25 miles (throughout the summer) you get invited to a dinner and get a t-shirt. The top three swimmers get trophies. I know what you're thinking, 25 miles (44 laps = 1 mile in the outdoor pool) is a lot. But it's not bad. I did it. Whether indoor or outdoors, the lap lanes apply. The slow and medium speed lanes have the elderly that swim as fast as I can crawl to NJ. The fast lane sometimes has the "I'm-Mike-Phelps-b*tch-get-out-the-way" swimmers. Excuse me, I need some beauty sleep. Tomorrow morning, I free willy. IFHTP 3+ read more

***REVIEW FOR OUTDOOR POOL ONLY*** Knowing from image searches that Asser Levy's outdoor aquatic counterpart wasn't lined in marble and presided over by a lionhead fountain probably kept me away from here much longer than necessary. When I looked up the dimensions of this pool on the City's website (http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/asserlevy/facilities/outdoor-pools/asser-levy-pool), I saw 120' x 45' x 4', under a photo that makes the thing look as narrow as a rich person's personal lap lane. Instantly, my cynical mind determined that 45-foot lengths were going to be the story here, and dreaded the idea of going there for my "Early Bird" lap swims before work just because this site is incontrovertibly the closest body of water to my present office. First of all, I was surprised that the entrance to the pool was the same building that houses the grand puba (in my opinion) of NYC's indoor pools. Not only that, but we get to access the same lockers! I was there a little later than I'd intended. Stomach burning with aggression, I glanced nervously at the line, then realized there were only five mild-faced dudes in it. I found the locker room as deserted as ever, but this time, realized there were other showers in addition to the creepy, tiled, open area where I'd rinsed off in cold water at an entirely different time of year. Not only are there a few stalled showers, these stalls have anterooms where you can rest your belongings without having them soaked or besmirched by the floor-residue and litter of so many other bathers. The pool was a total trip; shaped like an object in one of Salvador Dali's paintings and split the LONG way - thank all gods!! This meant 120-foot lengths, which meant 44 lengths made a mile; so much less dizzying even than the 64 lengths required for mileage in standard 25-yard pools at Ys and private health clubs. Moreover, each lane was HUGELY wide; not as wide as the bitter free-for-all at Lasker, but wide enough for people to pass without swimming UPON one another as if making some sort of statement to the folks who happen to be a little slower. Of course, one alpha male gratuitously pushed at my feet before passing by with three feet of waterspace to share, but it's a testament to the surreal uncrowdedness of this pool that I didn't give a crap - I was that mellowed out. I swam all the way to the right; the longest lane (to be safe in my count) for the fastest swimmers. It was definitely weird pushing off the walls because the lanes were so wide...I'd have to push off at almost a 45-degree angle to aim myself toward my path back the other way. Also, one half of the pool was blindingly lit by the morning sun, while the other half was in the shade, causing the relatively clean but somewhat foggy water to represent an infinite void of powder blue...pretty disorienting....JUST LIKE OPEN WATER! And beyond the rush FDR, you can also sense more open water - the great East River. So, while a selfish part of myself wanted to keep the outdoor Asser Levy pool close to my chest, I think it's only fair that I let people know that, at least if you want to swim morning laps here over the summer, then you will be met with long lengths, LOW crowds, disorienting water, and a halfway decent locker facility...though the swimsuit water extractor is currently broken, with a huge wad of neon orange bubble gum sitting triumphantly on top of it, as if to ward off anyone who might still try it. read more

Update!! Asset Levy no longer has gender discriminating ladies night or men's night. I recieved confirmation from the manager of Asser Levy, who advised that this policy is no longer in place. Feel free to arrive at all posted fitness room hours. ------ Original Review: 2 stars Did you know that Asser Levy Rec Center has gender discrimination practices? On Tuesdays, it has women's fitness night from 8 to 9:30PM and on Thursdays it has men's' fitness only nights from 8 to 9:30PM. The rules are not listed on Rec Center schedule, so women and men who go on these nights are harassed and kicked out! Appalling! read more

Lets break it down $75/year = $6.25/mo for a gym membership in NYC! How could you go wrong? NYSC, 24, Crunch etc etc all charge $70/mo + thats at least $840/yr before all the other BS charges. Best of all...NO CRAPPY TOP 40 MUSIC being blasted throughout like most gyms (who the hell likes to max out on their reps to the likes of Taylor Swift or Mylie Cyrus?). This gym has a swimming pool, weight room, pool tables, ping pong tables, fooseball and aerobics room all for the low price of again $6.25/mo! The trade off is the center closes at 9pm on weekdays and 430pm on weekends and its not the cleanest nicest gym with the latest/newest equipment. The whole point of going to a gym is to get a good workout anyways, you don't hear dudes in prison complaining about their weight rooms :p. I use the weight room here regularly and it has all your basic essentials, treadmills, bikes, free weights, weight machines and cable weights. Its a little cramped and the equipment looks old. If you like to use the treadmill expect to write your name on the queue and wait. I have to wait for some weight machines every now then but again at $6.25/mo who cares! read more

Great option if you are a little fish like me who loves to swim, and can't find anything bigger than a fishbowl to swim in. Honestly, I searched high and low all over the city for a good pool last weekend. 1 year membership is, believe it or not, $75, which includes not just the pool but access to workout machines, gym equipment, etc. I saw a couple of weirdos in the gym part--this review is just about the pool. The pool is extremely clean and well-maintained, as the city has infused these recreation centers with some 3.5 M in the last couple of years. A little walk over from the 6 train, but very much worth it. read more

I would've lowered the rating to a 1, but since it is a free rec center for people aged under 18, i cut the place some slack. The place inside is very dirty, my friend had brought me there so we could go lift some weights, and to hit the gym. When you walk in, you are immediately greeted by a strong scent of chlorine. Although, this is common, if you do not like this particular scent, you might not want to go. The Caucasian lady working in the front desk (works on fridays 3 PM?) who provided me my ID card was very nice. Her service was splendid, and she showed no sign of anger. She helped me through the process and was overall a helpful person. When I went into the weight room, I was greeted by weary weights, dirty floors, and the scent of body odor. The body odor is common, but c'mon, atleast get a damn glade or something in there. During our workout there was a woman talking to herself, and talking to other people (including me) randomly. I was told that she always talked to herself, and she was kind of cuckoo for a lack of a better term. After our workout, while we stretched a saw a centipede crawl around, and immediately I left. If the place would've been cleaner, it would be fine. However, it is a free rec center for people younger than 18. read more

This outdoor pool is absolutely disgusting. I've never seen anything so dirty; it is probably one step above the Ganges. The water is cloudy and you end up wading/swimming through nets and nets of people's hair floating in the water. We were literally pulling hairs off our arms and from out between our fingers and off our bodies every 30 seconds. The water reeks, and not of chlorine: there's urine and hair product -- TONS of hair product and sunblock and body odor. My little one is not so great at spitting out the water and ends up drinking some pool water whenever we go swimming. After Asser Levy, he always gets diarrhea. This pool is absolutely filthy. read more

Ha! "The Prison Gym," I knew the place reminded me of something. I joined for the gym- it has your basic essentials: repeating what Tony L. wrote, workout machines, weights, bikes, stairmasters, and mats for your stretching/warm-up needs. The [women's] locker room is rather clean with shower stalls in the back. You really can't go wrong with a year-membership of $75 for full access of the place. But it's such a loong walk there, for me anyways when I take the 6 train. There are a ton of buses that pass by but none going my way. It really isn't a bad place to go but it lacks a wide array of gym equipment, classes (then again, it IS a public gym) and I'm always surrounded by a bunch of sweaty guys (downing Muscle Milk) with biceps bigger than my head. Makes me feel kinda shitty that I can't even bench press12lbs without tiring out in mere minutes. Well, off to Gold's Gym I go... read more

Too packed. People jumping everywhere. If you want to swim, not the place to be. Plus not enough benches or seats.

NYC needs to rethink its concept of PUBLIC POOLS. Seems like pools are only public from late June till Labor Day and the remaining 10 months of the year you must be a member to access the facility. Membership is $150/year. I am not complaining about the fact that there is a cost to access the pool, it's just that if you are not a member you can't access it. There is no option to pay a 1-time access fee. Today, my body told me I needed to swim and my gym doesn't have a pool. It's always an epic journey to pack your bag and commute to a public pool, but I was super motivated. Sadly, I could not get in the Asser Levy facility. Thus, to be clear, the Asser Levy recreation Center, from September till late June, is a PRIVATE FACILITY. It's cheaper than other private facilities, but it's still membership-only. Now, do I want to pay $150/year to become a member and gain access to the Asser Levy pool that is closest to my home ... ? NO WAY. The indoor pool is 66'x26'. In my life, I have never seen such a small supposedly-public pool. You would need to turn around every 6 laps or so and would get out of it with more back and neck ache than when coming in. I got a sneak peek at it and there were only 2 people swimming on a Saturday morning... not very popular, but good because more than 3 people would not fit. I need to swim, are there any NYC public pools, with a non-membership-based access, aside from July and August? read more

I went there to swim in the indoor pool, which was fine. The woman's dressing room is so dirty, there is just duct tape covering any "holes" or broken things. There are roaches or water bugs, whatever you want to call them, it's unsanitary. The ceiling looks like it may cave in at some point, huge leak stain. There are no hair dryers. It is $150 for the year for people over 18 & there is a senior discount. I don't care how cheap this is, It's time to renovate this place!! The other recreation centers are a lot nicer than this one. read more

I have being coming to this gym on and off for the last 15 years. I must say it is nice to see the same faces at the gym. I wast very disappointed by the odor in the gym and how dirty it is. What hell is the manager of this place us doing. You don't need an army to use a wet rag and clean the machines and floor!!! read more

Asser Levy Recreation Center - Swimming Pools Near Me - New York, New York

Wonderful place with full facilities, nice people and best price! Help me a lot in finding back my confidence and health! Very grateful, enjoyable and unforgettable! Best, Willa read more

$150 a year for a lap pool and a gym in New York is unbeatable. And that covers ALL city pools. I would never bother coming to the pool except during lap hours. During that time, the water is clean and there are no homeless people wandering around like the other reviews say. There's always plenty of space and the staff is friendly and helpful. If you're looking for more frills, feel free to pay 10x that at a local gym. If all you need is a well maintained lap pool that's not crowded, there's no beating Asser Levy or the other Manhattan city pools. read more

At 75 Dollars a year you simply cannot complain about anything in this gym. Nothing, Nada, zip. You can spend that a month and be treated rudely at Equinox. Old school, I am old school. Its all cool. And has a pool. read more

Asser Levy Recreation Center is a fairly decent sized landmark located in a very nice neighborhood in the charming and lively area of New York, New York in Middle Village. This park can be accessible from the Williamsburg Bridge, Queens Midtown Tunnel (Toll Road) and FDR Drive. Perfectly nestled between East River and Hudson River right on East River adjacent to Bellevue Hospital Center. This park features many parking options. Asser Levy Recreation Center features many engaging amenities, programs and activities for all ages. This park features opens fields, courts and paved pathways for outdoor activities such as walking, biking, skating, jogging, strolling, soccer and baseball. Also, this park features plethora of indoor amenities. Bathrooms need better maintenance, care and ventilation. read more

I'm an avid user of the NYC Recreation centers, mainly for swimming. I started using them in 2007, when I was 56. At the time the annual fee was a mere $10. I mainly swam in the Chelsea pool, which is modern, but almost always very crowded - like Macy's on Black Friday - not pleasant. I eventually checked out all the Manhattan pools. I go to Asser Levy only for Sunday swims, and only when I don't have time to go to Riverbank State Park, which is closest to home (and obviously not a NYC facility but a state facility - for which I pay $1 per swim). My preferred city pools are Hansborough in Harlem, currently closed for repairs (just the pool); Gertrude Ederle near Columbus Circle, which has an excellent weight room and the Chelsea pool when I can't get to the others. Rec Center 54 has a weirdly-shaped pool, which I go to only if it's close to other appointments or activities. Tony D'Apolito indoor pool is small and very shallow at the shallow end. I've gone there just once - not again. The outdoor pool isn't bad, though. Today I'll be heading to Asser Levy because it's within walking distance of my next destination. I've also gone to the amazing Flushing Aquatic Center - beautiful facilities - but it's a schlep from where I live. Riverbank can be crowded on Sundays, so early swims are best. What I like about Asser Levy: New locker room facilities, great showers, privacy options for changing. (Some pools don't have privacy options.) The pool isn't bad if it's not crowded. What I don't like: I find the staff to be indifferent, and they really rush you if you've swum until the end of pool hours and they're trying to close within the next 10 minutes. Not enough time to shower and dress, especially in cold weather! Today I'll also be checking out the fitness room for the first time. Ederle has wonderful staff as does Hansborough. I have also swum at the beautiful St. Mary's pool in the South Bronx. Really nice staff, large pool, a great substitute for Hansborough, easy for me to reach on bicycle. read more

Great value for the price of the membership, especially with the pools. A lot of the workout machines stay broken for a while, but other ones are available. This place is so much cheaper then private gyms so I can't complain. One disadvantage is it closes at 4:30 on weekends. Other then that, the staff are friendly, the place is really worth it! read more

My brother-in-law affectionately refers to Asser Levy as "The Prison Gym". And while this may be intimidating to some, Asser Levy has a ton to offer. Outdoors, there's a playground, a fenced off wall where people can play a few rounds of handball or practice their tennis stroke, and a full size swimming pool. On the inside there's a rec hall complete with ping pong and fussball tables and a gym with workout machines, free weights, and treadmills. Since Asser Levy is a public gym, membership is only $75 bucks, a steal so long as you don't mind pumping iron next to a tattoo-clad ex-convict named Bruno. read more

I am only reviewing the indoor pool. I was solely interested in a place to lap swim in NYC and after striking out with expensive gyms and clubs, and not being eligible to use college pools, I found out about NY rec centers. For $75, you can use any rec center in the city for 6 months or $150 for 1 year. Sure they are bare bones, don't have Olympic sized indoor pools, or any of the luxuries you'd find at a "real" gym, but it's EXACTLY what I was looking for. Right now, this one is closest to my apartment. Since it's winter, I'm using the indoor pool which is only 3 lanes and 3yrds shy of 25yrds, but it does the trick and it's hardly ever crowded. I'm definitely grateful this rec center deal is available and I'm looking forward to using the Williamsburg pool when I move as well as checking out the outdoor pools come summer. read more

The fitness room has little ventilation, smells like boiled gym socks. Equipment wobbly, limited. Mens locker room in better repair than used to be with working urinals (although some people think the urinal is a waste can) and no soap at sinks On the plus side desk staff very friendly Shower area chronically flooded. Clearly a rec center loooow on the mayor's budget items (think neighborhoods) Oy. read more

I've been going to this center for almost 40 years. As a kid, I'd go to the pool and now I use the gym. It's $150 per year and that allows you to use all city gyms and pools. The gym is well equipped and clean. The people who work here are very polite and helpful. There are classes for adults, like yoga & cycling, and swimming classes for children. This is probably one of the best bangs for your buck in NYC. read more

The space is nice, the pool is pretty big and it is a nice place to take the kids. However, I think the staff that work here are quite rude. They don't like to be bothered with questions and they don't act very professional. read more

terrible gym and terrible staff, very messy and machines are broken. You get what you pay for.

There are a lot of things ya can use to hate on this gym: Constantly packed with greasy, meat heads; the faint wafer of a smell of urine and dirty socks up in the locker room; the fact that their elliptical machine has been sitting unused with an "out of order" sign for the past 3 mos; the constant feeling that when you'll turn around you'll get shanked by a fellow gym member or propositioned. But in all honesty, if you don't mind the grit and grime, you find a serviceable gym (not meant as a gay pun). The users are locals who won't spend most of their gym discussing the need for more cardio machines. They're real New Yorkers. The price: 37 dollars for 6 mos or 75 dollars for 12 mos. Unbeatable in its membership. It has all bare essentials you need in a gym: Pool (check), free weights (check), bench press (check), treadmills (check), out door pool (check). Asser Levy is a gym that is anachronistic as it is functional. I wouldn't have its inexpensive membership any other way (albeit wouldn't mind an elliptical). read more

Has everything needed for a good workout. Bring a good lock, your own towel, soap, keep valuables at home. $25.00 a year for those 55 and over, like me. I'm retired live on social security and a pension. Can't beat $25.00 a year. read more

Funky lockers. I'm used to NYC public pool funk, but these lockers are not right- Limited bench spaces, sauna-like temperature, and no soap, not even the blue/pink handsoap. One guy at front desk is friendly, but the rest scare me with the attitude. It was never directed at me save for once, but I've seen it happen to others and try to keep a low profile. Recently, some young woman with her locker across from mine had gotten her locker broken into and her bag stolen. She was crying and traumatized. Security was called in, and questions were asked, like, "Did you use a lock?!?" (Of course, plus anyone without a lock is denied entry..). Then this advice was offered, "You shouldn't use cheap locks because they get broken easily." To a crying 17 y-o., with no lock in sight for anyone to make that assumption anyway. Really. I had a smallish lock, so, curious, I asked, "What kind of lock were you referring to?", hoping that the security woman who made that claim about cheap locks can look at my lock and see if it needs to be better. Security woman rolled her eyes and said, "Lady, it doesn't matter." Case closed. On the positive side, indoor pool has a lifeguard that likes to play very interesting tunes during general swim (when I take the baby. Lap swim, is for us grownups only). There is nothing quite like bobbing around in a converted public bath turned pool (complete with lion head spouting water), with Barry Manilow's I Can't Smile Without You echoing off the walls. The outdoor pools are decent, a wading one for the tots and a 75-ft for the rest, but since it's right by the FDR, there is not a lot of shade around. You can really fry if you don't take precautions. Another plus is the architecture. Since it was an old public bathhouse, it has a Roman revival look to the front, and I think the original furnace chimneys are still there. The ceiling above the interior pool is interesting too. read more