I love the Staff and the senior program on Thursday. They serve lunch at the program.. Bingo and movie Thursdays are a huge hit.

This place is amazing, and I just don't know what took me so long to check it out. ABSOLUTELY THE SAFEST AND MOST ENJOYABLE PLACE. The teens and other staff are so polite, respectful and just plain happy. It's infectious, the attitude and vibe of Kroc Center, infectious in such a great way. TRULY A MOST BENEFICIAL AND BEAUTIFUL ADDITION TO BOSTON!! Obviously I can't say enough good things, lol, read more

See all

Very clean gym and locker rooms. The exercise equipment is spectacular too- with individual TVs on each treadmill, elliptical, bike. Ipod hook-ups are also available on each machine. The class times are great for working people - I can always find a class to take every weeknight at 7pm or 8pm. Kick Boxing and Boot Camp are fun - I've heard the same about Spinning and Zumba. The instructors are very high energy and keep the class working hard. The group fitness room is well lit, with mirrors covering two walls, and has a bouncy wooden floor. Group fitness classes (both gym ones and aquatic ones) are included in the price of the membership The aquatic center looks fun too and is always staffed with life guards. They also have an entire family locker room (separate from the women's and men's locker rooms) that might appeal to families with children. The family locker room is a series of small rooms that each contain a sink, toilet, shower, and changing area. Each family room is behind its own locked door for privacy. Probably works well to contain toddlers while Mom changes. They also have free parking in a lot behind the building. I deduct a star because the price (about $50 per month) might be out of reach for some in the area. Also, I've been to two classes where the instructors were late. Additional information that some may find helpful: This gym is more like the typical Y, than a Boston Sports Club or Equinox. There is no steam room, sauna, or towel service and the gym only has liquid soap in the showers - no shampoo or conditioner. There are no hair dryers in the locker room either. They do offer 1.5 hours of free babysitting for kids while Moms/Dads work out. That seems like a nice perk. read more

Salvation Army Kroc center - Aquatic Center - Swimming Pools Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

I really love the Kroc center! It's a great and much needed addition to the Dorchester/ Roxbury neighborhood. It's really great for kids and adults alike. My 67 year old parents come here every morning to exercise and meet up with friends. They have a very large weight room filled with everything you need. The cardio room is small but I've never had a problem finding a machine as this place has hardly ever been packed. They offer cycling class and a few great workout classes. If you like a hard workout that will make you sweat take any class that Michelle teaches you won't be disappointed and your body will thank you! They also have the huge pool! My parents go every morning and do aerobics! I'm so happy they have this awesome place to go during the day to workout and mingle. Make sure you get a membership if you live in the area your body will definitely thank you! read more

See all

The Kroc center is the best value in all of Boston. It is truly a gem. The fitness classes are taught by deeply caring professionals. The desk staff is friendly and efficient. The after school offerings for kids are exceptional, and the teaching staff is also fantastic. They have summer camps that are tremendous, and a lot of partnerships with politicians and organizations within and around Boston that bring great one-time opportunities to the Kroc. We got to see the Boston City Singers with Reggie Gibson from Love Jones! I have an aged neighbor who I bring in for their senior programs, and she absolutely loves them too. This is a true community, from the guards who make you feel safe at the door, to the maintenance and cleaning staff who make the place sparkle every day. Thank you! Kroc Rocks! If I had one suggestion for improvement, they should pay their staff a lot more than they do. I've gotten to be friends with some of the employees, and was told that Kroc sets a pay scale nationwide. But there is a chasmic difference between the cost of living in rural Iowa versus trying to pay rent and live in downtown Boston. This flawed logic means some really fine employees have left for higher paying jobs, and leads to a bit of a turnstile mentality. read more

It takes a lot for me to give a negative review. My husband and I joined this gym before new years eve. So he paid a little extra for the membership. We get to the gym that night to joined and park in the front on dudley street. We go through a metal detector. Which is weird to say the least but we kinda suck it up. We ask for a tour because we are unfamiliar with this whole location and we are brand new to the Dorchester area. So us thinking this location is convenient and brand new with competitive prices were big selling points So the girl giving us the tour, did not know the names of the machines, where were the class they offer were to be held, and couldn't for sure say what time the pool was open or rock climbing area is available. Serious cluster fuck. So we were a bit hesitant but we joined because like I mentioned this place is the closest gym from our house on Boston street and it was brand new. We get all excited and we go first time after new years during the evening but let me state the my darling husband being the prepared type signed up for a boot camp class and we head over there. The last time or first and only time we show up we park in the back because the attendant who processed our paperwork told us that there is parking in the back. Take this with a grain of salt. The parking is poorly lit. So women alone beware. I couldn't really find parking because the parking area is bit tight but I finally find a spot. I park and get out to notice the car next mine has a broken widow as in someone broke into that car while parked there. So my husband goes never park on this parking lot alone. I smiled and moved the car to dudley street. We go in. He asked where the boot camp class was being held and he is told that they were unsure. One of the attendant states if there was even a class scheduled so they checked the calendar and sure enough there it is. So they send him upstairs and I start my workout on an elliptical machine. I am on that machine for 20 mins and can see my husband waiting for his class to start with 3 other people waiting with him. He goes back down stairs and attendant don't know anything about the class. They state that they will call someone. After 30 mins waiting he had enough asked me if I was done so we could leave. The attendants never arrived to see what happened to the class. I asked the attendant for cleaning solution to wipe down the machine to which he didn't know what I was talking about. He said that no need to clean the machine. Ewww,.... just ewww. Now after numerous calls to the manager that have been ignored. I wish them well in their cluster fuck of a gym but I don't recommend it. read more

The Kroc Center is a wonderful addition to our neighborhood! It is stunningly beautiful, everything inside is state of the art, they cut no corners (well, maybe one or two, which I'll mention in a second), and all of the staff are incredibly well versed in customer service. There are after school programs for the kiddies, early morning swims/exercise for seniors, I dare you to find a better equipped gym anywhere in the city- it is open all day and staffed all day, with weights and strength machines on the first level, and numerous cardio machines on the second level. There are classes of all sorts- cycling, spinning, rinsing, zumba, turbo kickboxing, aqua aerobics, you name it. Swim lessons for kids, adults, and seniors. There is a regulation sized gymnasium that has designated times for open play and organized play. The swimming pool is hands down the best, prettiest, and most well designed in town! You really HAVE to SEE it to believe it. They offer supervised child care for parents or caregivers who wish to use the facilities, but need this service. There is a snack bar. There are sitting areas. Heck, the place is gigantic, and there are parts of it I haven't even seen yet. There is a professional kitchen, where I heard that, at some point, they will be doing cooking lessons on preparing healthy meals. Drawbacks: just one, really. If you live in the neighborhood, which it was built to enrich the neighborhood, you may find a membership a little pricey. Financial assistance is available, but even with that, it's still expensive to many- depending on your situation. I must deduct a star for this. It's a problem. One that has been brought to their attention, but nothing seems to be happening about it. However, I heard that no one has ever been turned away for financial reasons. Cutting corners? Only one. In the fitness area, there is only ONE water fountain, and one bathroom, and they are downstairs. Meaning if you are upstairs, getting your cardio on, and you need the bathroom or water, you have to break your routine, go downstairs, get it/use it, and come back up. They were already building, money was already being spent, would it have really been that much more to add an extra water fountain and bathroom? Other than that, the place is like heaven on Earth. Oh. Speaking of heaven, it is the Salvation Army, so they do offer church services, choirs, performing arts, etc. on Sundays, and at other times as well. Very thankful for the Kroc Center- love it! You will, too! read more

My review is for the pool only. The last 4 times I've tried to go the pool has been closed. Despite that I tried to sign my kid up for a swim class. I sent in paperwork and planned on making a payment in person, as stated on the form. What was NOT stated on the form was a deadline for the payment. When I called (5 times) to figure out what was going on, I finally heard that while there were openings for the class (with a cap of 5 kids) they could not accept my child at this time because it was two days past the payment date. They said that many parents had similar issues, that they had to leave several spots open, and that they had no plans to change this policy or make it easier for parents to understand in the future. The water space is cool, but it seems poorly run. I'm going to Dorchester House's pool down the street instead. read more

2 stars for 2 reasons. 1) Sunday hours, 2pm to 6pm. Should open earlier. Who really wants to wait until 2pm to workout? Usually, people want to get their workouts done nice and early on a Sunday. Waiting for 2pm is a drag. And 2) the METAL DETECTOR. Every time I come in, I need to give them my head phones, my bag, my keys, phone and water bottle then walk through. This is ridiculous. I shouldn't have to take everything off. This is a gym. Not an airport. I simply came to workout. It's a hassle to have to take everything off to put it back on just to get in the gym. read more

This place is beautiful. I've been to a few yoga classes that are great for the price. Before you get to the classes, you walk past all the machines, and they look clean. Staff has always been friendly to me. I plan on purchasing a membership. LOL at people complaining about the metal detectors. Not sure why that's a problem. #firstworldproblems? Also, for a single lady $30 ish a month is a great deal. I've been told the family rates are a little steep for the population this place serves though. The YMCA charges me the same per month and offers discounts based on income. They should follow suit. read more

It blows me away that people spend 3 times as much going to other indoor water parks. For $15 total, my 7 year old daughter and I can both splash around all day, hit the water slide, and lounge in the lazy river! The facility is modern, in great shape, and an absolute BARGAIN for the price. Either some people don't know about it, or suburbanites are wary about heading into a Dorchester water park. Whatever the reason, I'm not complaining. The place is great, staff is polite, private family changing rooms with showers are excellent, and kids love the automatic bathing suit spinners. Get a membership, or a day pass, and get your Kroc on! I even saw the little cafe last time I was there. I'll have to try it out next time... read more

I remember where the Kroc Center is today was a dumpiy field of weeds and beer bottles and the occasional homeless person. The neighborhood hasn't improved that much since the 90s when I live there. The Kroc Center's membership isn't easily obtainable for most of the people that live in the neighborhood . They're attracting the wrong dynamic that aren't from there , in the hopes of changing the neighborhood. Just look at the person in the picture. A neighborhood in Dorchester that is 75% African American 15% Caribbean.They even charge a application fee .Financial aid is not readily available . Compared to places like the Flaherty pool in Roslindale $50 a year for a whole family or $25 for the Boys & Girls Club Savin Hill. They should be ashamed of themselves read more

Where do I start? There are just so many awesome things to say about this place! It has always been a task on it's own to find a facility that works around my schedule, being a full time worker and mother, so when I found the Kroc Center, I was beyond delighted. And the fact that it was just down the street made it all the merrier. First and foremost, as someone else mentioned previously, everything is state of the art. I was truly knocked off my feet the first time I walked in this building. I heard it was nice, but I didn't expect anything like this. The place is so big, that during my tour, the tour guide, whom was exceptional, found a room he'd never even seen before. (Granted, he was new.) They have everything from a beautiful fitness area with awesome treadmills, rock climbing, an enormous basketball court, peace chapel, performing arts theater, recording studio, daycare services, after school programs, Zumba, Yoga, Boot Camp and the list keeps going. Oh, but THE POOL!!! Talk about jaw-dropping! It's like a mini water park, with a water slide and all. This hands down, is my daughter's favorite part about the Kroc Center, and maybe even mine. As I mentioned before, the operating hours and services they provide are awesome. They have classes as late as 9 I believe and offer child care services, with plenty to do for the children, while you are working out. It doesn't get any better for the working mom. My favorite classes are Zumba and Boot Camp. The classes are full of energy and the instructors really know what they are doing. The staff is extremely friendly and accommodating. I love how helpful they are. Cleanliness? Let's just say, I would almost feel comfortable enough to eat off the floor. This place is spotless at all times. BIG THUMBS UP! One of my favorite things about the layout is if you are doing cardio on the second floor, you have a great view of the kids enjoying themselves in the pool area, rather than staring at other people huffing and puffing, covered in sweat. Location of the building is great. If you have a car, there is always plenty of parking, and if you are using public transportation, it's next door to a train station and the bus drops you off at the front door. Overall, I LOVE this place and I have zero complaints so far. My daughter loves it, my friends who have recently joined love it and I am sure if you join, you will love it too. read more

I love this center! Everyone is helpful and informative! I wouldn't go anywhere else! The senior aqua aerobics are fun and wonderful extensive workouts appropriately applied! Gregory has been there fromday one and really glad he still is! read more

This is a review of the pool. We bought a one day pass and for 2 adults and a toddler it was $20. We were there less than 2 hours. Con's There is so much chlorine in the pool! My eyes burned and I had to leave the pool multiple times to rinse them out. There are so many lifeguards that are "whistle happy" That is all I heard! I kept turning my head every minute to see who was doing what wrong. It is unfortunate that some of the parents were not paying attention to their children and letting them do whatever they wanted. Poor parenting is probably why the lifeguards needed to keep on top of the kids so much. Pro's Affordable even if it is just for 1-2 hours. Perfect for a toddler. The family changing rooms were great. You have your own toilet and shower. I was very impressed with the family changing rooms. The front desk staff were very nice. The facility was very clean Free parking lot read more

Had an 8th birthday party for my Son with his classmates in November 20017 at Kroc Center Indoor Water Park. We had a wonderful time, nice big room, staff attentive and easy going. The kids played in lovely, outdoor, play ground, till everyone arrived. Pool well staffed with lifeguards who the paid attention to the children. The kids had a blast. The water was temperate and not over chlorinated. Overall I cannot recommend it enough. The party price is reasonable, and because it is in Dorchester your guests don't have to drive far to get to a kiddies party, and there is plenty of off street parking!! You have to cater your own food, which in my opinion gives you more flexibility. We have done parties at Franklin Park Zoo, Children's Museum and Kroc enter. Kroc Center was the least stressful to host, best quality for price. I highly recommend them. read more

Very bright and beautiful facility. Clean and family friendly. They have something for everyone there. The reason they receive 4 stars instead of 5 is because they ARE ALWAYS changing the group exercise classes especially the Saturday ones. I like taking Zumba Saturday mornings. The classes are tight especially the spin class but hats off the management who added additional classes without hesitation. read more

Went there for a childs birthday yesterday and was liking the looks of the place as I walked in, but why the metal detector? Problems in the past with issues? We had 90 mins of pool time but my gf and I had to sit it out because of not having proper attire (which makes sense). My gf had bottoms but not a top and she couldn't even touch the water with her feet without being yelled at by all those young kids (life guards). Our daughter is 3 and it would've been nice if we or at least the gf was able to go in the kiddie area. It's hard to enjoy this place because of all the guards yelling and using those annoying whistles at every moment they get a chance. The gym membership is a bit much but compared to the YMCA its much cheaper. The parking isn't bad but for those who use this gym once the sunsets this place can be a little dangerous. The pool manager needs to lose some of her powertrip tendencies and her staff could try to be nice would be great. Not a bad place but it gets 2 stars for first impression I'll come back in a few weeks on a Saturday with the fam for the pool again and edit my post. Oh and if your child is under 4 ft tall they aren't allowed to use the waterslides not even with a parent which is a bummer. read more

Attended a birthday party at the Kroc Center in Dorchester. Lots of parking available which is a big plus! Facility is huge and modern. The area where the party was held was also spacious (and there are two refrigerators and a sink in the party room!). The pool area was also great. Party was on a Sunday and it wasn't too busy. I'm just not sure if the place gets packed on other days (e.g. Saturday). All in all, it's a great place to bring the kids (or have a party). I would go more often if I didn't live 25 miles away. read more

I love the Kroc center! It is more than just a gym. There is no intimidation here. I visit at least three times a week for the past four months and every single day I am welcomed with a hello and a smiling face! I am always made to feel welcome. There is a wide variety of workout equipment to choose from including cardio equipment and weights. There is usually a steady crowd, but I am always able to use the machines I wish to use. The basketball court is beautiful and clean. The whole place is set at a comfortable temperature. I don't have one bad thing to say about Kroc. God bless the people who keep it running every day!! read more

Fantastic gym, pool and people. We've been going here regularly for about 6 years. I can't say enough about the Aquatics staff. We tried lessons at BU and MIT and the kids swim lessons at the Kroc by far the best. Since there are multiple instructors in the water they are able to split the kids into groups to work on what they need to excel. The lessons were so good that I started to take private adult swim lessons with Gregory. I'm now swimming at least 3 times a week and know 4 strokes. I highly recommend joining the Kroc! read more

I live in Dorchester and totally appreciate and love the Kroc Center. Let's face it, sometimes it is hard to stay motivated to go to the gym. For me, classes keep me motivated. They offer 25 classes a week. I have attended spinning class and muscle conditioning and have found both the instructors to be fantastic. I plan on attending Zumba today! The classes are not crowded and the space is clean in bright, with hardwood floors, nice lighting, and mirrors. The cardiovascular section is also clean and big. There are treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, and stair climbers. Each machine has an ipod hookup and television step. From the look of it, the weight area looks nice too. For me, I get anxious when there are no other women lifting; I wish there was a special "women only" section or special "women only" times for using the weight machines. That's just me though. The aquatic area is nice too, the pool is heated. As for price, it varies. I am a student, so the price is very reasonable (less than $30 a month). They offer financial aid for people who qualify, but I think for many it may be a bit expensive. I've been really impressed with the facilities here. It doesn't ever seem that crowded, I"ve never had to wait to use equipment...with that said, I hope more people come to check it out! Free parking too! read more

Very clean and inviting atmosphere. I really enjoy going to the Kroc Center. All the employees are so welcoming.The membership is worth every penny. Everything is covered under the monthly membership. I am so glad i don't have to pay any extra class fees. The machines have Ipod hook ups which is so convenient. Tv's on every machine. They have excellent instructors for their workout classes. I love the variety of activities. It is a very nice place to take the family. read more

Pros: Beautiful pool and facilities. And I have always had a positive and pleasant experience with the staff until today. Overall a great facility and I will continue to support it and visit it. Cons: Woman at front desk seemed overwhelmed and stressed over the phone and in person when I inquired about the fee. However I encountered the pitbull viciousness of a female pool staffer who barked and acted overly agressive for what was a minor infraction. Being kind and courteous to members and visitors should be their customer service model and practice. It would be nice if management would train their staff and recruit staffers who have the appropriate skills sets and demeanor for dealing with the public. read more

I had my daughter's fifth birthday party at the pool here. The pool area is really nice and my daughter and her friends had a lot of fun, but that is mainly because they didn't have to deal with the headache that The Kroc Center imposed. For their pool parties, they now have this rule that you get the room for an hour and a half before the party and the pool for the rest (but you can go into the pool earlier if you like), but you must vacate the room after the first hour and a half. This means that you have to eat, have cake and ice cream and sing happy birthday, and all of that before going swimming. Why would they have the kids eat and then go swimming? Also you have to have the room completely cleaned out after the first hour and a half, but if the adults are bringing their children into the pool, how can they also clean out the room? ...and where do we then hold all of the extra food and the presents? I had to bring extra people who didnt have children and werent going to swim (extra people cost more) to clean out the room and bring everything to the cars while I took the kids to the pool ...and most parents want to go in the pool with their child for safety sake. They say that they do this now because when they had the room available after the pool, the people didnt leave on time BUT they didnt even have another party after ours. We cleaned out the whole room and vacated it and when we looked in the room after (it's a glass room that overlooks the pool), two employees were just sitting in there having lunch ...??? The room wasn't even needed. It was just a really big inconvenience and made the party rushed and that much more hectic. I had to have the kids eat superfast so they could go in the pool and we could clean out the room. As nice as this new facility, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anyone because it was just too overwhelming to have to rush through the party and I dont like the idea of stuffing the kids quickly with food and then sending them off to swim. I would've given two stars but I gave it three stars because the kids had a great time, the price wasn't bad at $250 for three hours, and most of the staff (minus one who was rude) were friendly. read more

I've recently was a member of the Kroc center of Boston. I must admit the facility is beautiful and clean, however I believe the Kroc center should adjust their membership prices accordingly to the community it serves, not every family has 76.50 a month for for a membership and most individuals don't have 49.50 a month for a membership. The kroc does have some scholarships that are available but only a certain amount and that does not serve the whole community well. If the Kroc center adjusted its prices it would have more members and a much better rating!!!!!. read more

I had my son's birthday party here and I get an email (on his birthday which was 3 days before his party) saying that I might have to cancel the party because the pool wasn't working it had mechanical issues. Then I just said that I have to keep that day and if there was anything that they could do for me. They said well u can have the room still or u can get a refund. I chose to still keep the room. On Friday evening I received another email saying everything is working correctly. I show up the day of the party and there were no decorations, which I already paid for. Luckily I got some just in case. When wrapping up the party I noticed that I didn't get the goodie bags, again which I paid for. I went to talk to the woman that was there to help, that there were no goodie bags. She said she didn't know anything about it. She called the person that was in charge and they said that I would get a refund for that and the decorations when I get my $50 deposit back. Okay fast forward to today 3 days after the party. I have called and emailed the people that I spoke with to set it up and they are not responding.Now mind you I just paid 275 for this party. If I don't hear from anyone soon I will have to contact the Salvation Army Head Quarters. read more