My daughter has been going here since kindergarten and she loves it. She learned how to swim, dance a d made friends. Now she was doing volunteer work and still stops by to see the staff. Great community center. read more

Front desk woman is the antithesis of a customer service-oriented woman. I ask if I can do a day pass and she looks at me like I am taking up her time and says "no." I ask her if I can try out the Y (which I have done at other Ys and she says "no" and then "it depends on the day of the week" and then "it depends on the time of day/session" - and it was open swim. Finally she agrees to go back and ask if I can try it out. She comes back and says I can do a guest pass for $20. I fill everything out and then she said that she'll only take cash which I don't have so I have to leave without a swim workout and having met a very unpleasant human. read more

I am very grateful that we have a neighborhood facility like this offering access to a beautiful Olympic-size pool and daily fitness classes. Particular mention should be made of lifeguard Rena, who watches over the swimmers like a hawk and does her utmost so that her swim lessons (for children) are gentle and enjoyable. She takes her responsibilities seriously and is committed to ensuring a safe environment for all. Similarly, fitness instructors Jessica and Nora bring professionalism and care to their classes. All three of these talented ladies have been on staff for many years (this alone says a lot in this era of lessening employee loyalty). The classes I attend end with a round of applause at the conclusion of the sessions as the committed exercisers are happy to express their appreciation for time well-spent. read more

This is a review specifically for the Aquatics Program at Commonpoint Central Queens. My two toddlers were terrified of swimming and we had spent a lot of time and money at another swim school with nothing to show for it. About a month ago we signed up for an Intensive Swim Week and have had a handful of Sunday classes since and my kids are almost ready to swim on their own without kickboards or noodles! I feel so much relief as a parent knowing my kids finally have some water safety skills! As a swimmer myself, this was always a top priority for my children. Shoutout to Swim Director Dawn and Coach Dylan for being such wonderful staff and literally for the lifesaving work they are doing! read more

Avoid at all costs. I have never had to deal with cleaning actual trash ( lots of it) before picking up a weight. This place is unbelievably filthy. No one at the Y believes this is necessary to address. They blame members and just don't care. The equipment is not arranged safely or with any thought. It's in disarray. The sauna doesn't work. They'll give you a song and dance about fixing it, but it's not happening. This place is a complete nightmare and let's not forget that one woman at the desk is a witch. I don't know her name but if you waste your money here you'll not be greeted, at all. You might be leered at. read more

I give two stars only because I went there for nursery/PreK as a kid and joined swimming class when I was in elementary school. The reason why it's low is because every once in a while I went back for a visit (interview for my daughter's daycare application) every staff I met we're all rude. Today, I went there for the first time in years just for my daughter's friend's birthday party cause we were invited there, as I entered, a man at the counter was friendly and greeted us. Then, as I was sitting at the party, I have noticed something strange. I feel like other staffs mostly female, were giving my kind of race (Asian) mean looks, turning their backs on us, and served cakes only to non Asians including my husband. Then I started to feel very uncomfortable that I had to leave the place with my daughter. I attempted to tell the front desk staffs have a great day, but only the man who greeted me earlier answered back. For today I feel like I should never go back there ever again. I was thinking about apply there for my daughter to join swim class but now I changed my mind, especially after reading other reviews about how dirty their pool was. Sorry. But at least I enjoyed my childhood when generation was much nicer. read more

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If I could give zero stars I would. This is a horrible establishment and they need to seriously re-evaluate the kind of swim instructors they allow to be employed here. Lee Chase is on a serious power trip and has been nothing but rude, horrible, and extremely unprofessional to all of the students she is supposed to TRAIN. DO NOT WORK HERE OR SEND YOUR CHILDREN HERE!! SHE NEEDS TO BE FIRED! read more

Extremely disappointed & disgusted by the hygiene & professionalism of this gym. On two separate occasions I mentioned to the manager that there were dried roach guts in the women's sauna & politely asked her to clean it... after noting the sauna had still not been cleaned for two weeks, I asked for a feedback form & was given an email address to extend my thoughts..,, TWO emails later, the sauna remains the SAME. It's now been a solid three+ weeks with the same accumulating roach guts in a small sauna that we're supposed to feel comfort sitting half naked in... The lack of cleanliness & responsiveness is unacceptable & disrespectful... Not sure what will prompt action & this makes me wonder about the cleanliness of the the pool water & remaining quarters. read more

The Y is a great place to take a variety of interesting courses for families. They have a many different programs for all ages. Their website is useless. So I have added information I have gleaned from other sites about them. You have to call and go get a brochure if you want specific dates, times and prices for programs. The Central Queens YM & YWHA is a non-profit Jewish community center offering early childhood, youth and camping services; health and fitness; senior citizen, cultural arts and Judaic programming; immigrant and social services. For Schools and Other Groups: After-school programming in the visual arts (pottery, ceramics, painting and drawing), crafts (puppetry and mask-making), dance (ballet, tap and jazz), drama and music lessons in guitar, piano and voice. Program Location At facility only Grade Level PreK-12+Adult Program Season Fall, winter and spring semesters, plus Summer of Arts for children ages 3-11. Maximum Group Size 6-18 per class. Fees Adults $17, seniors $16, children $13, adult members $15, senior members $14, child members $11 General Information Hours Mon-Thurs 8 am-9:45 pm, Fri 8 am-4:45 pm, Sun 8 am-6:45 pm Admission Varies Gift Shop Info Judaica Disability Access Fully accessible Directions Subway: E or F to Continental Ave, or R or V to 67th Ave; Bus:Q65A to Jewel Ave and 108th St Parking By arrangement read more

My son attended the Y from 1989 through 1993...I took him to mommy and me and me without mommy...after that he attended the nursery school...I did have some complaints but overall it was a great school for him. I always recommend the Y to new parents...I loved the director at the time Frieda...She was so warm and loving to the children...I loved Anita...another great teacher...The nursery school has so much to offer the children and now has UPK which I could have used at the time...anyway it still is one of the best nursery schools in queens... Rita Stichinsky(mother of Matthew Stichinsky) who by the way is now thirty years old and a lawyer. read more

Friendly place that saves me from the havoc of having to use a public pool; it's cheap enough and the other members generally just keep to themselves but if they do have to interact; they at least know basic etiquette which is something in rather short supply at a public pool. The building is not that clean, in fact, the dirtiest looking and most chaotic looking room in the whole place is the room the cleaning people work out of! They have great lectures on a wide-range of subjects; they've always got at least one interesting thing going on. The facility is very heavily used; it's got like 10,000 members in a building the size of an average NYC Junior High School; they own the property next door; there's a lot of very rich Jewish people; they should just expand into those lots with a bigger facility; the heirs to Lawrence Tisch could just write a check; case-closed. read more

I dread coming here. I have nightmares about this place. There are some shockingly mean staffers. I walked in, and said "Good Morning," and my head was bitten off. I have never been spoken to with such disrespect. One of their receptionists is an animal. Unfortunately, they have the monopoly, and I have to exercise, but this place poisons my life. read more

I am surprised to see this school has only 3 stars. I would give 5 stars from my experience. My son has been attending to this school for 2 school years including summer camp. More than anything, my son really enjoys being in the school. Personally I like this school because: - they have indoor swimming pool. Not just for summer but WHOLE year. It's really great that children get used to play in the water at early age, and eventually learn how to swim. - there is an outdoor play deck on the top of the building. They can play outside safely every day. - they have knowledgeable and competitive teachers. Teachers make huge differences when it comes to early education. All the teachers we had were very thoughtful and experienced. - Late stay and enrichment program is pretty well organized. There are a range of options (gym, swim, arts) you can choose and it all happenes inside of the school. read more

Highly recommend the CQY's Nursery program. My son has been attending the program for 2 years (was in 2's class and is now in the 3's class). The program follows a play based learning curriculum and my son is thriving there ... the teachers, staff and director are amazing! The facilities are great, and everyone is warm and welcoming. I love that they have an outdoor play deck (they are outside usually 2x/day); indoor pool (my son's class swims once a week and a huge gym that each class uses once/week. My son also has music once a week Last summer we did the nursery summer camp and loved it, swam 4x/week and had a great time. Great place for working parents as they have organized early and late stay, plus mini camp for school breaks. Def highly recommend the program! read more

Cqy has been my family for the past 4 years.My son attended the 2 year old program when it started 4 years ago and now my daughter is entering the pre-k. The nursery staff is great! Teachers are very caring and attentive. My son got early intervention services and the program director and his teacher were very involved in the process and help me out through out .The best thing that my kids would be upset that the weekend is coming ,because they dont get to go to school-it means they must know what they are doing in CQY! read more

I have used the pool for almost a year now, the water in the pool is cold most of the time. especially in the winter. The shower room needs to be fixed ASAP. Not enough showers. and not clean most of the time. They need to change a lot of things to get more people. On swimming day for women only there should be no CHILDREN. read more

This is a long 3-star review with some good and some bad. Note this review is intended only to cover the gym and pool areas, although they have other services such as day care, classes, etc. that I haven't and will probably never use. I used to be a member at NYSC and recently felt the monthly fee wasn't worth the service (~$75/month), so I started looking into alternate, more-affordable gym solutions. Lo and behold, the Central Queens Y is equidistant to the NYSC from where I live and the fee is only ~$45/month per couple! This would be a $105 savings each month total between me and my better half, so after touring the place we decided to give it a try. I've been a member of CQY for almost 8 weeks and have used the gym and pool facilities on average 3-4 times per week. Here are my collective thoughts. Pros: - inexpensive - has a pool - (very) basic gym equipment available - parking lot for members - most of the staff is very friendly and engaging, something you don't typically encounter at big box gyms, but maybe because this is more of a family/community atmosphere more than a gym - sean at the pool is incredibly friendly, vicky at the pool is a good instructor - they have a parking lot a block away Neutral: - this place shares a lot of jewish values and is closed at 4-ish on Friday afternoons and closed all day Saturdays - has other classes and classrooms, but I haven't tried any of them - the basketball court has open gym times, but i most likely won't play because it has a rubber floor which i dislike and always seems dusty, gets pretty crowded, and is relatively small. it seems like it's built more for grade schoolers than adults. but i'm glad to know there's a place where i can shoot around. Cons: There are two major cons here: one regarding bathroom/facility cleaning, and the other with signage/instructions for new members. Here's my full list: - there is no towel service - the body shop (aka weight room) is serviceable at best. while they have some new cardio equipment, it's a very small room with machines laid out one on top of the other. if you go during the day, there are a lot of seniors working out. the room feels so small that if there are more than 6 people working out at the same time, you'll feel like you're working out on top of one another, which can feel uncomfortable. - the mens' bathroom looks relatively clean but honestly smells like they barely clean it. i loathe entering the facility because sometimes it just smells like a combination of mold and dirty feet/pits/ass. only once in the last two months have i walked in and it smelled like they actually mopped the floor with any sort of cleaning material. i have actually wondered how often they clean this room as i've NEVER seen anyone cleaning any part of the locker room - in addition to the above, i once went on a monday morning (10am) and found no toilet paper in the bathroom stall. this is more evidence that they don't pay close enough attention to the locker room. even the urinals looks like they are barely cleaned, or cleaned sloppily. - it seems they heavily rely on their regulars, and assume that everyone knows what's going on. for new members (me), this can be maddening. considering they have a schedule for each area that seems to change every hour which can be difficult to follow (men only, women only, co-ed, closed for classes, adult only, etc.). and you'd think they'd have the schedule posted somewhere, but the only place i've found it is online (not helpful when you're actually there and don't get great service). - no one tells you some of the nuances of the place, like giving your ID to the person at the desk downstairs, and then they hawk you/yell at you when you don't give it to them; how was i supposed to know? nobody informed me... - or the time i tried to enter at 7:30pm via the main doors and they were locked and i didn't know what was going on; a woman opened the door for me looking at me like I was crazy for not knowing i needed to use the back entrance after 7pm. Again, how was I supposed to know if no one told me or there aren't simple signs informing me to use the back? Summary: All in all, this is a decent Y. And again, the staff are mostly friendly. But beware: you do get what you pay for and as long as you're comfortable with their ever-changing schedule, nuanced rules, and not-so-clean facilities, this could be a good, affordable location for you to get in your workout. read more

So disorganized. Horrible annoying. Can't do anything unless you want to be trampled over. Overly packed. Surprise this isn't a fire hazard how many people they try to pack in this place for events. read more

The pool is disgusting there a dirt on the pool floor and the lane line have mold on it I would not recommend being here and u get a rip off

Service isn't good at all - I paid for a full-year adult membership and never got a card (I was a member for a year). Every time I went I had to dig out my flimsy receipt when I paid in full for my membership - nor did I get any communication on when to take a picture for my card. The pool has bits of toilet paper floating in it and the changing room/shower room (I don't know about the mens) but the womens room smelled like mold and it's just very old. The showers were disgusting and there was mildew all over the curtains. Soap gunk and hair on the stands in the shower (can't even put my shampoo down). And I always went swimming at 6AM - so that's about as clean as it's ever going to get. Didn't try anything else - so can't say anything else about the place. I joined for the pool. read more

They should have better receptionists！！！！！Those who working there are not knowledgeable and some of the old ladies are not friendly at all. Whatever the questions you asked them they will say not sure or need to ask the people who works in the office. They slowed down everything. read more

My sons had swimming lessons here, and they were great. The teachers were sensitive and did not push you to do things that might scar your child. They were very empathetic to my children. They seem to have lots of other interesting activities, but my experience is in beginners swimming classes. So I liked this place. read more

My daughter attends Pre-k and so far she loves her teacher. I have had no problems at all with her going and no drama at all. But that may just be my daughter. She has liked the overall programs available and has integrated very well for future endeavors. She has taken their swimming classes and she is now swimming solo at 5 y/o. read more

Both my children attend Central Queens Y and I am so impressed with their programs, especially for the little ones. Their nursery camp and school is wonderful! My 2 year old daughter asks to go to camp on the weekends! Erica Cando and her staff are excellent! I can't recommend them enough!! read more

The Y in Forest Hills refuse to give back refunds. My daughter took private swimming lessons and I paid upfront I was told I could get a refund if I was not satisfied. Unfortunately I schedule a few private classes, but the instructor never showed up. This happened more than once. I stated to the Y I wanted a refund and they told me all I have to do was send in the tickets and I will get a refund in 6 weeks. I sent these tickets to them the beginning of August and now it's November. I called several times and the lady that handles that department has tried to give me every excuse in the book why it's taken so long. I work too hard for the City of New York to have a non-profit organization lie to me and try to hold on to my money. read more

I absolutely love the Y. I have nothing but good things to say. My 3 year old son attends the nursery and the teachers are so loving and attentive. I have seen such a huge change in his growth since he started. Erica and Charlotte do an amazing job and always have their door open to discuss anything. The teachers always take the time to talk about how my son's day went and I've met some parents who have become good friends. read more

I am absolutely thrilled with the Early Childhood Education program at the CQY (now known as Commonpoint Queens). My two year old daughter is absolutely thriving. The teachers and program director are absolutely wonderful. This is a very nurturing environment -- the parents are also wonderful. We couldn't be happier that this is our daughter's first educational experience. read more

My twins have been attending the Central Queens Y Pioneer summer camp for three years! It has been a wonderful experience for both them. Swimming, GAGA (the kids favorite), trips are only the beginning! The staff have been super sweet and always greet the kids and parents with a big smile! I think this is a worthwhile experience for any child who wants to be in the fresh air; enjoying bonding with their peers:) read more

The exercise classes are very good with knowledgable, professional instructors. I'm in much better shape than when I started and this is all due to the Y. As for the people who complained about the pool and gym area, loosen up -- the place is a deal. The classes for small children seem to keep all the little ones busy and happy. The are lots of social services on hand. This is truely a community center with lots to offer and easy transportation. read more

Never, ever, ever My son went there for a couple of months when we first started daycare for him. When you walk in, it's dirty and claustrophobic. The daycare teachers were meh and when it was my sons birthday, and we had baked a cake with him to bring in, we were told they only accepted cakes from a kosher bakery, so we had to take it home. I then ran to a local Jewish bakery and got a cake that was available immediately as my sim wanted to celebrate it at the Y. Upon bringing it into the classroom, the teachers gave me a suspicious look and said they didn't believe it was kosher, and they "would test it" to see if it was. I showed them the receipt and they accepted it with bad grace. I was furious but tried to hide it as I wanted my son to enjoy the celebration. Upon returning home, I checked with my kosher and orthodox friends who said they had never heard of "a test for kosher-ness". My son got to eat his cake that he had helped us with that evening with family and friends. Because it was the only place near us with a pool, I went there to swim a couple of times. There are certain pool hours for women and others for men. My son at least was able to swim with me. The pool is dirty and not a pleasant experience I will certainly never return read more

Great place...they are staying to beautify the place more...:-/ However what makes the Y special is its variety of sa quality programming...courses for people of all ages...starting from 7 month to seniors...the quality is amazing! read more

Very Bad experience. My son was on the swim team and absolutely hated it. Kids taunted him in the locker room and the coaches weren't the nicest. The pool is disgusting..The building is not clean and after we settled the account because I did not want my son partaking in their program they still continued to bill you! BEWARE watch your Credit Card Statement with this organization! read more

I have been involved with the CQY for many years from exercise classes to my kids camp and soccer club. The staff is professional and friendly. I have three kids who have all only had positive experiences there. Great Place!!!! read more

My daughter has attended their summer of arts n sports program for 2 years now and she loves it! She swims every day, they go to trips and they play a variety of sports. The children are physically active everyday. I also really like that they incorporate education/academics as well. For example, yesterday they learned about what it means to earn, spend, and save money through an interactive activity in order to help grasp the concept. Moreover, they have arts, in which they paint, cook, etc. As a parent I really am happy with this summer camp program and I feel my daughter is getting a good experience overall; and since I really don't have the time or additional funds during the year to provide her with swimming classes throughout the year, she learns this very important survival skill at CQY. read more

The Central Queens Y is the best recreational center I've been to yet! I don't know what experiences the other reviewers have had, but I can assure you that this is the place to be if you want an affordable, friendly place for you and your family. The staff and faculty are incredibly friendly and willing to help out as much as they possibly can. The facilities are clean and well maintained. The CQY has done nothing but improve since they've renovated their pool, lobby, and playground. There's free parking for members located a block down which is really convenient. I mostly come here to work out, but the CQY has a lot of other great programs too! I bring my kids here for after school classes, as well as camp during the summer. They're always so excited to show me everything they've done at the end of the day. The counselors seem to be very skilled and dedicated to their job and the kids. Overall the CQY is a great organization. I'll admit, the outside could use some work, but the actual activities are definitely worth joining for! read more