The park next door: This is SUCH a cool park! So few parks have swings and this one has baby swings and normal swings and the back support swings! In addition to the swings, there's a baby park, and a big kid park, AND a splash park. What more could you ask for?! read more

Takoma Community Center - Recreation Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Wonderful community center. I go for the tennis courts but there is basketball, baseball, and playgrounds. A wonderful green space in the middle of the city. The tennis courts are good fun. Lots of community spirit, music, and local flavor. Usually can be a waiting line but the courts are decent and also well lit read more

The pool, gym, splash pad, etc are amazing. We had my son's 2nd birthday party there years ago and it was great. Easy to book, clean, and well ran. read more

I love this park! The main playground is enclosed making it easy to track my 2 little ones at the same time. They have a 2nd playground adjacent to the main one, that's geared more towards babies and toddlers. The splash park is awesome inn hot days and the entire set up is just convenient and cute. The grounds also have tennis courts, basketball courts, a garden, a baseball field, an Olympic pool, and tons of grass. We just had my 3 year old's birthday party there, and all the parents raved about how thoughtlessly entertaining it was. read more

Takoma Community Center - The birthday boy and his brother playing in the spray park. - Recreation Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

They have a nice park area for the kids! Little splash park, tennis court, playground, baseball field, the works!! The place is always clean! The pool is nice as well! I usually go on a Saturday! It's FREE for DC residents and only $1 or $3 for non-residents! The kids pool is really nice! The adult pool is also! I like the fact that every Saturday when I go, the place is never overly crowded! The lifeguards and staff do a great job with monitoring the children etc. They're also very helpful if you want to work out in pool etc. The girl that's the new pool manager can be rude at times, but I ignore her! I'm guessing by her just becoming the manager she feel the need to be Anal about everything, Whatever! If she had better customer service skills this place would've definitely got 5 stars from me! Most of the time, it's not what you say, it's how you say it! Still a decent place! read more

Takoma Community Center - Really big pool here! FREE for dc residents - Recreation Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Okay, so I'm out of shape. Smoke too much; eat too much and don't exercise. Being that I'm fairly intelligent, thought it's time to do something about this sad state of affairs called ME. Today I went to my first session of water aerobics at the Takoma Community Aquatic Community Center. OMG! Everything I have hurts! The hairs on my head, the polish on my toe nails, the skin of my teeth! Talk about a work out! Nicole Michelle at Takoma Community Aquatic Center, you ROCK! I just pray these ol' bones will get me back there on Thursday for session number 2. I've already taken 2 tylenol and hopefully will make it through the rest of the day! Pray for me, y'all! DC Senior Citizen Residents pay only $25 for a 6 week water aerobics class, which meets twice weekly (Tues. & Thurs). Money very well spent! Time well spent! Happy camper am I. read more

This is perhaps one of the best DC has when it comes to public pools. It is free for active duty military. I don't know the rates for non-residents. The pool has more than 10 lanes half of which are 6 feet and over. There's one 5 feet lane, and all the rest are 3 and 4 feet. Staff is courteous and accommodating. Kickboards, belts, and barbells are provided for. Lockers have enough space (of course, bring your own lock). Showers provide privacy (as long as the curtains work) and are not military bay-style. I guess they heat the pool only during winter months. Parking is very ample (at the back of the building - not on the street). The pool is not crowded at all (weekdays). I do not know about the weekends though. The weight room is quite a disappointment. It's small and crowded. So basically, I can only recommend the pool. Pool hours: Monday - Friday: 0600-2100 Saturday-Sunday: 0900-1700 read more

Takoma community pool...yaaaay! A good, basic pool for a good, basic workout. Olympic size, 2 pools. One split into maybe 7-8 lanes, the other into a shallow pool and one slow crawl lane (where you'll find me). Staff are mostly laid-back young adults. Pool is fairly clean, although there is a little bit of slime/mildew on the floor in parts. Locker rooms are less pristine, with noticeable mildew all over the ceiling. They keep high powered fans on all the time, but it doesn't seem to help...they are hot and sticky... Go barefoot and you are asking for hepB. Mornings are best in my opinion...no kids/teens, serious swimmers, and the occasional grandma doing water aerobics... go grandma! I originally was going to give them 3 stars, but DC residents are free... And the hours are great. And they are pretty easy on how they define residents... If u pay a utility bill, you are good to go. read more

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. This is a recreation center with an indoor aquatic center. There's a play pool for kids (with water fountains) and two lap pools (actually an Olympic pool that is split in half). Water is clear and clean, and not crowded on weekends (I can't speak for week day lap swim). Lap swimmers can access kick boards and pull buoys. Locker rooms - the ladies' locker room is quite large, with three alcoves of lockers for plenty of privacy. There aren't as many showers as you'd think there would be for the number of lockers they have, but they all work and have pretty good water pressure. Sometimes some stalls lack curtains. The bathroom is very modern and clean - plenty of automatic stalls and faucets. As with all DC rec. centers, this is free to residents, but they do check your ID at the entrance. For land lubbers, there are also multi-purpose rooms, basketball courts, a playing field, and tennis courts that I never had the chance to try out. The Center is about 10-15 minutes from the Takoma metro stop on the red line if you walk. read more

I recently moved to DC and live just a few blocks from the Takoma Community Center. I actually signed up for one of their adult swimming courses before I arrived because I heard they sell out so fast (the classes are capped at 10 people). When I showed up and actually went to check the place out, I was expecting it to be rundown since it is a government facility, after all. Quite the opposite. The pool area is gorgeous. The locker rooms are well maintained (damp, of course, but clean). I am nearly finished with my Adult Level 1 swim class and am already signed up for Level 2. For DC residents, the swim class is only $10 for 6 weeks of instruction (with classes 2x/week). That's crazy affordable! If all goes well I hope to take the Level 3 course later this year. My instructor also mentioned they are going to be offering a kayaking course soon -- how awesome is that?! The fitness center is small, and yes it is annoying that it does not keep the same hours as the pool, but as someone who works from home I've been able to make it work for me. They have all of the basics (free weights, kettlebells, leg press, various other machines) and for $125/year I really can't complain. I have noticed there are some inconsistencies with the check-in process, and the online signups don't always go as planned (I had to sign up for my Level 2 swim course in person, for example). Otherwise I would say this is a 5-star worthy facility. Take advantage of your local resources, folks. read more

My friend and I came here to workout after a week of sitting around during Snowmegaddon, realizing that we needed to workout something else aside from our livers. I can only speak to the pool (the community center itself was closed when we came), but the pool here is gorgeous. Lap pools are well-maintained and there's even a kiddie pool with a fountain. Bathrooms and locker rooms are really clean as well (bring your own lock though). Free for District residents with ID, but we weren't asked for ID at any point. Pool wasn't too crowded for a weekend. Can't speak for the PM rush. read more

Wow, I was really impressed with the pool here. It's Olympic quality, college quality pool with amazing bleachers, etc. The only negative is that there are lots of practices for various teams at the pool, and you could end up not being able to get in the water due to a swim meet, etc. The lockerrooms aren't the most amazing thing in the world, but the pool is top notch. The pool itself is 50 meters long, with lanes typically setup at 25 yards, swimming across the pool. One end has a baby pool. The surrounding grounds have beautiful park and grass fields, including playing fields. There is plenty of street parking. I assume there is a parking lot, but I didn't see it when I was there. The staff was really nice and respectful, which is more than I can say for a lot of DC area pools (I'm talking to you, Wilson and Ramsey). Great place to swim, high recommend, with beautiful windows and lots of light. read more

As a newcomer to the area, I was intent on finding an indoor pool for lap swimming. Heard a lot about this place, so I went with high expectations. Arrived on a Sunday morning, when it was pretty quiet. The men's locker room was dingy and outdated, with multiple unusable lockers because of broken locks. Showers were dark. I will not be coming back for one, key reason. The pool's water temperature is really, really warm. I'm used to 79-81F degrees -- the perfect range for lap swimming. Instead, the pools here are really warm, probably 84-85 degrees. Great for enjoying the water, but NOT for lap swimming. I have never heard of such warm temperatures for a lap swim pool. WTF, you can die swimming laps in this water temperature. read more

This review is only about the pool and it is POSITIVE. The pool is clear, spacious and smells of chlorine without the tell-tale sign of over chlorinated water. It's great. The only reason it's not a five star location is because the bathrooms aren't perfect. But I'm not complaining. I love this place. read more

Free if you are a DC resident. Sure, we have taxation without representation, but I don't know of any state that gives its residents free access to such a fantastic resource. Takoma is only one of several pools available in the district, and you can almost always find a lane for lap swimming--even during peak hours when other gyms with pools would be packed. On top of all that are the baseball fields, tennis courts, recreation fields and track! read more

It's been more than a year that I am going on an average of 2 to 3 times a week to the Takoma Pool and my sporty life couldn't be any better. Of course the best feature of is that is FREE for DC residents, but beside that I truly appreciate the following characteristics which are not that easy to find in every pool: - Easy to swim up in your own lane pretty much all the times of the day - Warm water - Clean - 3 different pool to choose from, which means that even if some lanes are taken for classes or water ball games, there is always enough space for swim Back in my hometown I was use to pay up to 9$ a day to go to the swimming pool and the only thing that was better were the locker rooms. There is no way this deal can be beat and even if DC is awful with the cameras and car tickets system, I truly appreciate this FREE service which actually kind of make my staying in the DC quite pleasant and is a kind of decision making factor to live in the district. Just think about it: Going to swim 3 times a week for a year will cost something around 1000$ for a non DC resident. If this is not a deal, well you guys tell me! read more

Note: All aquatic facilities in DC are free for residents! So go check it out! DC offers incredible public facilities and the Takoma Community and Aquatic Center is definitely one of them. I love our regular swims here. The facility is also very clean. read more

It's a wonderful facility. The pool is clean, the locker rooms are fine, the staff is friendly and--as has been mentioned--free for DC residents. The only reason I am not giving it five stars is because it does not have a whirlpool or a swimsuit dryer. Small complaints, but both are at the Wilson Aquatic Center--another run by DCDPR. So, if Wilson is a five (and granted, it is a VERY new facility), Takoma is a four. (If Wilson AC wasn't so amazing, Takoma would be a five. Obviously.) read more

We just moved to the area and we loved the idea of being so close to this pool. We went once back in August with our 2 little ones and, while the facilities are beautiful we were quite turned off by how cold the water was (too cold for our kids to play more than 10-15 minutes) and the locker room floors were covered with water making it dangerous for the kids and very impractical to change. We have not gone back since so I don't know if this may have been a onetime issue. read more

Meh it's okay but one of the second largest pools in the area. Has more lanes and more diving spaces and good for families and kids.

My new number one place for lap swimming. Everything from lessons to competitve swimming for children, young and senior adults.

This is a pool. Not the pentagon. The woman at the front desk seems to think that she needs a thumbprint, retinal scan, and a hank of hair from people seeking entry into this pool. Entry is free for DC residents. You prove residency by showing an ID. So one day all I had was my "pool bag" and my work ID still pinned to my work clothes. She was like "so next time I need an ID with a zip code on it." WTF. Ok, honey. One time, when she had seen me two days per week, three weeks in a row, and it was raining and windy and freezin-ass-cold outside, and all I had on was a swimsuit, flip flops, and a coat, she demanded I return to my car and go into the trunk (where I keep my costume jewelry and watch while I am in the pool) and get my drivers license. Oh I did it in lieu of running around the plexiglass separator and channelling my best Wayne Brady ("Is Kelly G. going to have to choke a beotch?"). I was so dam glad when she had the flu for two weeks and the "other guy" sat at the plexiglass for the duration. He was so nice. You could flash your ID and he would wave you in. What a relief. I don't know why she is so protective of this pool anyway. The water is so freaking cold. The water temperature is a steady 31º F for the swim team that meets in the far lanes. It could some how theoretically be a tiny bit warmer for people in aquafit who are standing around (i.e. jogging in place) between exercises. The water is always ice cold. I am shocked there are not crystalline chunks floating in this pool. It is so cold that even the lap swimmers and swim team (who supposedly like it cold) have complained the water is too cold. When this session of aquafit is over, I am going to try to go back to Takoma where the water is at a decent temperature for aquafit. The pool is huge. But it is segmented by four or six steel and concrete barriers. It is like 4 pools in one. The baby pool has been closed since I started going to aquafit here and the locker room has half-length lockers with a place for you to put lock for you to lock up your valuables. read more

I love the aquatic center; the pool is clean and the lifeguards are friendly. Thank you Takoma staff for your hospitality.

I have only used it for their Olympic sized swimming pool. It is free for DC residents and that is amazing. We usually go in the evening and always get a lane. Sometimes you may have to share a lane with someone else but that's okay since the lanes are pretty big. The changing room has many lockers and plenty of showers. There is a separate kids pool as well. Lots of parking available. This has become our new swimming spot read more

As with other reviewers I can only speak to the pool. I highly recommend it for a workout. It is a no frills aquatic center, there are no slides and no hot tub. It is truly a more workout oriented pool. The pool is well maintained the showers are clean ( and have hot water a big plus). If you are looking for a spot to do laps you found it, enjoy! read more

If only this pool were closer to home! The two lap pools are both sparkling and very well maintained. They also have water aerobics classes if you're not into lap swimming. I came in the middle of the week during "rush hour" but was able to share a lane with no problem. The locker room was very clean, considering it's a city pool (been to others, can't say the same thing), and didn't make me feel skeevy at all. I happened to have a rental car that day and there was a big parking lot and ample space on the street surrounding the complex. If it weren't alllllll the way out in Takoma (that's a LONG ride on the red line!), I'd definitely come here more often. read more

Was desperately looking for a cardio workout on one of these cold winter days (normally biking, but if it is below freezing, I give up ;-) ) Tried the Y on Rhode Island and 17th and learned that the A in YMCA stands for attitude - and the M for money I think - they offered a day pass for $20 ... Desperately looking for a pool, I found the Takoma Community Center online. I called, and they were open. I was hesitant at first to make the trip up there - but it was worth it. Big pool (it was a Saturday morning) and a lot of lanes. Had my own lane all the time - awesome. Locker rooms are decent and the staff was really nice. I'll be back! read more

I am visiting DC from the UK and am an eager swimmer. I found out via Yelp that this center was very close to my hotel. Even though I knew that, as a visitor, I'd have to pay $7 for entry, I'm fine with this charge. This is about the same cost as I'd expect to pay at home. I must say, I'm very impressed with this center. I've used the pool both first thing in the morning and in the evening and there are so many lanes that I never had a problem with even having to share a lane. Back home in peak hours I'd have to share a lane with at least three other people. The changing rooms are clean enough and the staff are friendly and welcoming. There are two things which I would highlight, at least for visitors. Perhaps this is just what is done in the USA but just in case this isn't obvious to any readers: i) You have to bring your own lock for the lockers. ii) The center does not accept cash and the online ticket purchase system is rather clunky and bureaucratic. Even so, thumbs up! read more

I've signed up for a class here, but haven't yet been in the pool - from what I've seen, it looks great! What I'm disappointed about is the website and the odd way DC Parks and Recreation manages the Aquatic Center, the Fitness Center and the Community Center. The Fitness Center is housed within the Aquatic Center building and is membership only. I asked to see it before signing up for an annual membership ($125/individual). It's tiny, doesn't have high end equipment, but hey - it's affordable, right? What irked me is that no one told me until my first day working out that the hours for the Fitness Center are *completely different* than the Aquatic Center. It doesn't open until 10am, making working out before work impossible. I still don't understand what the Community Center does or offers, and the department's website offers no insight. Why have all of these things operated under different umbrellas, with vastly different levels of transparency and resources? Disappointingly inaccessible. read more

Great pool! Entrance is free for DC residents with proof of ID. The gratis entrance sure makes you appreciate the district government. The temperature inside the center is nice and toasty -- perfect for cold winter days. The pool water may feel a tad cold at first, but swimming laps will quickly warm one up. The women's locker room was pretty clean. Free body wash is provided in the showers, which can reach satisfyingly warm temperatures. As with most aquatic centers, bring you own lock to store your stuff in a locker while in the pool. While at the pool this past Sunday (beginning of March), my boyfriend and I had no problem finding our own private lanes to do laps in for nearly an hour. In addition, we had no trouble finding parking outside the center. The only reason I did not give the pool five stars is due to its lack of a large hot tub like that of the Woodrow Wilson Pool in Tenley Town. Understandably, the luxurious hot tub is not completely necessary, but does make for an extra pleasant experience. :) read more

Awesome splash park and playgrounds. I wish there was more shade on the playgrounds, but I love there is a shelter with shade with tables for eating and applying sunscreen and such. The playground was very clean, as was the splashpark. I have a crawler and there were big sprays and little sprays. Most of the kids were under five (we came during a weekday morning), and having a blast! Bring bathing suits, towel and sunscreen. There are bathrooms right off the splashpark, but I didn't use them so I'm not sure how clean they were. I can't wait to try out the aquatic center. read more

I'm only reviewing the outdoor playground and splash park associated with this center. The splash park is perfect for 3 to 7 years old, though my 9 year still managed to have a lot of fun. The playground is great for 3 to 11 - very nice, new, different equipment. The novelty of it really impressed us. It's a little park, but a very nice one. Really awesome for the preschool/kindergarten set. You can do birthday parties by the splash park - there's a shelter. And there are nice bathrooms. read more

I really like this pool. I've lived in the area for a while but only recently started swimming. It's fantastic. It's Olympic size but setup for 25 m lanes rather than 50. At first I thought this a disappointment but it does mean that it's much easier to get your own lane and I like that. My first time at the pool was to accompany my wife who was swimming. I was in street clothes in the bleachers at the pool level. After about 10 minutes I had the swimsuit conversation that is so often handled poorly and results in negative reviews of pools around the city. They were respectful though and I went upstairs. The pool is wonderful. The locker room is not so great but it does the job. You don't have to push a button in the shower but it's low flow. The lockers are cheap and the locking mechanism isn't great. For that reason a lot of them are broken. I wish there was a machine to dry swimsuits. You don't go to a pool for the locker room though and it's not so bad that I would take off a star. The staff at check-in is usually ok, sometimes unfriendly, sometimes super nice. The life guards seem fine. When I've been asked to move lanes due to swim club practice they have always been nice in explaining what lanes are free and when others are opening up. The Takoma Pool ranks right up there with the Ft. Totten Transfer Station as my favorite DC government facilities. read more

I frequent this pool on weekday mornings between 8 and 10 and always get my own lane! The locker room can get pretty crowded, especially when the seniors come in on Friday mornings for practice. I use my own lock, no security problems. read more

I came to the Aquatic Center to take part in a water aerobics class. I have only words of praise for the facility itself and for the class that I took. However, on my second visit there, someone got into my locker and stole my shoes. I checked to see if the locker were firmly locked and it was, but somehow someone got in there and stole from me. I wanted to report the theft, but there were no staff members visible at the front desk. I am not sure how I will be able to finish out my course while fearing that I will be robbed again. What surprised me was that none of my valuables (cell phone) nor my money were stolen, only the shoes. Even so, I was lucky that I had my thong sandals to wear home; otherwise I would have had to go home barefoot. read more

Pleasantly surprised by this community center. I signed up for an aqua aerobics class and I didn't have high expectations. This place is easily accessible (ample parking), orderly, clean and has some dirt cheap swim classes. When I say dirt cheap, I mean if you are a DC resident the class is the equivalent of two martinis at a fancy bar downtown ($25). The ladies locker room has free lockers, the ones where you lock your stuff up and take the key with you. The pool is a bit frigid on entry but as soon as the class starts you'll warm up quickly. The aqua aerobics class doesn't seem like you're doing much but when you wake up the next morning you feel like your wearing a girdle from that ab work you were doing in the pool the night before. Now that's the kinda workout I like- doesn't feel like much but the next day the results are evident. I'd say the money I spent for the this twice/week class is the best money I've spent so far this year. read more

This review is about the pool only and it is positive. I split my swimming between the Wilson Aquatic Center and the Takoma Community Center. They both have their pluses and minuses, but overall they are both fantastic facilities. The Wilson Aquatic Center is newer and has all the perks that come with a newer facility. On the other hand, it is usually crowded and full of swimmers that adore their 50 meter format (it is a common topic that one will overhear). The result is that one always has to share the lane with many others (it is common to have 6-8 people in one lane). This is great if you're training for a triathlon, however, not so good if you like to swim at your own pace and have an aversion to unplanned contact with strangers. The Takoma Community Center is obviously an older facility but just as good for a swim. The pool and the locker rooms show signs of age, but they are more than adequate to get a good workout. In addition, one can usually swim in a lane by one's self. The swimmers here are more laid back, less competitive, and more courteous. Swimming here feels like one is swimming in a private club pool. (and the format is always 25 yds) The staff at both are friendly and helpful. Parking can be tough at the Wilson Aquatic Center, but it is literally a block away from the Tenleytown Metro Station. On the other hand, parking is never an issue at the Takoma Park Community Center, however, park at your own risk (just saw someone's car get broken-into while the police car that is usually parked there took a break). I bet there is something that DC police can do, given the fantastic facility and the park that surrounds it. I'm not a DC resident, but even at $149 per 90 days, this is a real bargain (price private gyms to convince yourself). Of course, if one is a DC resident, it is amazing that one can use these world class facilities free of charge! read more

Really nice pool and a great price for DC residents. There are often too many kids but I never have trouble getting a lane. Would be a perfect 5 but the showers/locker rooms are consistently dirty. read more

We live nearby and our two small kids LOVE the children pool. It is amazing, spacious with huge splashing fountains. They have a blast on the rare days when: 1) the center actually opens on time (we usually go in the morning on a weekend); 2) the kid pool isn't closed for some swim match event that isn't announced on the website; 3) the kid pool isn't closed because they don't have enough life guards on duty that day; 4) the staff remember to turn on the heat in the kid pool so that it isn't freezing. We try to call ahead to see if all of these factors are OK, but they never answer the phone. So we lug our two small children over there. Probably 25% of the time we are not disappointed. At least there is a nice playground at the rec center for the other 75% of our trips. read more

Please note there is now a female cleaner and so the locker room is not closed down. She is an incredibly careful worker and the shower area and lockers and bathrooms are very clean. Maintenance is sometimes an issue. Showers break down and the swim suit water extractor breaks. It takes a long time to fix these assets ... but still love the pool and the staff. read more