Whomever is in charge of cleaning is doing a bad job. I have a very bad infection and I'm directed to this being the one possible vector.

I just got a little Silver down my spine, thinking about how much I didn't like this YMCA. This little YMCA was not so friendly on the way in - having to prove that I actually was a member, which took more than 5 mins - and once I was inside I was all pretty boxed in. A forgettable Y, old and run down and needs a major facelift. Definitely one of the less enjoyable YMCAs I've used and despite how old and run-down it is, it's also busy so you will have to wait for certain things on certain days at certain times more than you would in the average YMCA location. And some of the other members are not so friendly. A good parking lot though, and nobody bothers you in it if you're hanging out in it for awhile. read more

See all

Showing improvement. Doorways widened. Some newer equipment. Had a great Director (Melvin). Front desk friendly and pleasant. Convenient hours, etc. Everyone has always been very nice to me. read more

Learned how to swim here as an adult. Terrified of the water and untrusting of all assurances. Six reluctant lessons later, found the back floating position. Probably the best teaching lessons I have ever had. Kudos for doing what you do. Eventho no longer a member, those lessons opened a whole new world for my family and I. Now living in Florida and swimming almost everyday. read more

Deceptive and unusual cancellation policy. I ended up paying for 2 more months than I wanted. They say they need 30 days notice - though it is apparently actually slightly more than 30 days. Also the billing cycle date I was given at the front desk was not the one the membership contact told me I have. They are more expensive than many private gyms. It's almost worth cancelling my credit card to get out of this. The biggest apparent advantage YMCA has over some local facilities is its classes, many of which are free with membership. But most are in the gym, whose acoustics are awful. I couldn't understand the instructors. The indoor pool is more crowded than some other local facilities. The lifeguards often leave the indoor pool door open in cold weather, so you may need a coat while waiting to use the pool. The shower floor in the male's swim locker room is filthy, to the point you may slip on the slime. If all you want is a gym, Planet Fitness is much cheaper, has longer hours, and their equipment is more adjustable to your size. Some county-run gyms are cheaper too. And there are better and less crowded pools. Two good points: Dave, an adult swim class instructor, is quite good. YMCA/Silver Spring (part of YMCADC.org) is part of "Nationwide Membership", which means you can use some other YMCA facilities; I've heard the Bethesda facility is better. read more

Nice YMCA nestled in a community - I was in the area for an event and it was super easy to get in and out from the Interstate. I used the indoor pool & men's locker room. The pool was really nice. Other swimmers were very polite to seamlessly share lanes when it started to fill up. The staff members where very friendly. I'd love to have seen partitions in the shower, but it has the "large shower room" style. Some of the parents bringing kids in for swim classes would have definitely appreciated a more layout that allows for more modesty since you have to walk through the shower room to get to the pool. read more

My kids love to swim. So any place with a year round pool is alright with me. My first impression of the place was that it looks a little old, but it gets the job done, and the biggest plus is that its not overcrowded. The staff members are very nice, and helpful. You won't be blown away when you visit, but you will definitely leave satisfied. The one big draw back for me, especially since I come with at least 3 children is the naked old guys in the locker room. Seeing a grown man butt naked first thing in the morning os not my idea of a good start for the day, or something I want my kids to have to endure. Not sure why this seems to be the culture at every YMCA that I have ever been to, but by now you would think they would have developed some way for those that feel the need to shower on site to have some privacy. That way I dont have to have the talk with my son every time we need to access the locker room. Seeing him squirm in awkward disgust, while trying to avoid eye contact is kind of funny, but its not preferable. My daughter gets equally creeped out in the womens locker room. Other then that it's a good low key place to go. read more

The gym rooms are compartmentalized. It's small spaces and I'm always bumping into someone. But I can work with it cause its the only nearest gym in Takoma Park. If you can stand the downtown traffic for the SS Sports Club I'd suggest going there but the Y works for me. The staff is friendly and I feel like I'm at home. I love the yoga classes especially with Diane on Sunday mornings. read more

YMCA Silver Spring - YMCA you have got to do better - Swimming Pools Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I LOVE THIS Y! The outdoor pool is amazing and heated year round which is unheard of and such an amazing perk. Not to mention they also have an indoor pool which they are in the process of renovating and looks like it will be even better. The classes are taught by great instructors and I always get a good workout. The front desk staff are friendly and helpful and the other Y patrons are always lovely. I hesitate to even write this review--don't want my secret to get out! Now, it is old and has a rambling layout and is not decked out with fancy perks. This is not your overpriced downtown D.C. or Bethesda workout location. This is the YMCA. If you want something glossy, fake and fancy, this place is not for you. But if you want a family friendly workout environment with all the basics plus TWO pools, then by all means come join us at the Y! read more

The Y is a feel-good, community workout club that makes up for its homeliness with charming and friendly staff. A good place to meet new neighbors and get together with old friends amid none of the pretentiousness of the fitness chains. Two very nice pools. I have been a member for over thirty years and have had few complaints, which then were immediately addressed. Plus there is the field behind the Y for running! Andy M Silver Spring read more

My recent experience really disappointed me. I've been a Y member for 34 yrs, 21 of them at the Silver Spring location. In preparation of my move out of state, I discontinued my membership. When a friend and I decided to meet one last time at the outdoor pool, I was stunned when they charged me $20. I paid and went on in. As I left 2 hours later, only using a chair, I decided to speak with the executive director. I was told that the guests rates recently went up from $10 to $20 to benefit the members by limiting the number of guests they might bring. Hmmm. Can someone please tell me which Christian value is represented by that practice? Shame on you Metro DC And SS ! read more

We have come for the pool for a few decades (and, for us, the workout equipment/classes are extras.) Unfortunately, the pool is no longer really available to members during the summer -- it's overcrowded with daycare kids. Also, since they refinished the pool, they do not have space for parents to watch their children. (They used to have some bleachers and seating around the pool.) They want us to STAND outside in in the small bathroom area (with insufficient seating when there are more than a few individuals). This is such an unpleasant, uncomfortable, and often smelly way to waste an hour. I don't understand -- the pool isn't any larger or nicer -- just less welcoming. I'm sorry to say it looks as if it may be time for a change. read more

I love this YMCA. I love the staff and the OUTDOOR POOL and all of the lovely folks who I have met in the locker rooms. Yes, I might have made different color choices for the paint and boy do I wish that the sauna was near the pool, and they do the best with the facility that they have! The fee structure for visiting YMCAs is based on a number of factors (distance, cost of your home YMCA membership) and thus can seem somewhat mysterious! I can visit for free in Greenwich Village or at the YMCA in Charlotte, NC but not in Bethesda. I appreciate that they were open for a few hours on Thanksgiving and that the turkey burn exercise program for that day benefits folks in the community who would otherwise be unable to visit the Y. read more

Dated and creepy. It's a shame because there are some really nice Y's in the Metro area (Reston, VA and downtown, to name two). Too bad there are no nice ones in Maryland. There is no way I would choose the Y over a normal gym, based on this being the closest one. I have an "association" membership, which allows me to use any Y in America, so I can use this one for free when I am in Maryland. However, I would rather pay to use somewhere else. Boo! read more

YMCA Silver Spring - Jail cell wall? No its the dungeon-like one at the SS Y *thumbs down* - Swimming Pools Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I was born and raised in Silver Spring and I've been going to this YMCA since I was born. Twenty-two years later and I still love it. I learned how to swim here, went to daycare here, went to summer camp here, I have to say I've definitely grown up here. I've been to other YMCA's and this is by far the best one. The gym equipment is really nice and updated. There are TV's on half of the cardio machines which is cool so you don't have to stare at the wall, with good channels too! The weight machines room (whatever they're called) was just updated as well. The free weight room though is a little small and cramped. It can be hard to workout in such a small space with a few people in there. There are so many classes to take from dance to yoga to aerobics. Most are included in your membership, some you might have to pay extra. The pool is year round, big ups to the ones that can swim in the freezing cold! The pool might be heated but what about when you get out?! There are also indoor pools for people like me that can't face the cold. The pool can be pretty crowded during the summer. Everybody that works here is so nice I've never had a problem and that's saying a lot since I've been a loyal member for 22 years! read more

For outdoor swimming in the summer, this Y is pretty good, especially if you have kids. But as a gym, it's rotten. Old machines. No towel service. The workout rooms look like a dilapidated 1960s elementary school. The lockers look like prison. read more

I am a huge fan of YMCAs in general and of all they do for the community. I was a member of the Embarcadero Y in San Francisco for years and loved it. But, sadly, I had to quit the Silver Spring Y after being a member here for several years. This might sound trivial, but I happen to really like to lift weights and, bottom line: I got sick of the uneven floor in the weight room. Several years ago when they renovated, the contractor completely botched the job in the weight room. So you can be deadlifting or squatting and have to search for a spot where your right and left feet will be on level ground. It's a small, often crowded room, so it actually becomes impractical to improvise in this way. And if you lift heavy at all, doing so on a completely uneven floor is actually kinda dangerous. Unfortunately, at the time of the renovation, they also got rid of some of their older equipment and replaced the machines with LifeFitness (I think?). I don't use machines that often, but for the few that I do use, I'm not a fan of this particular line or of the machines they selected to purchase. This Y also doesn't have towel service, and the classes are okay, but not great. Most are led by local moms. Dianne's weekend yoga classes do get very crowded, but I stopped enjoying those because she has people doing handstands who really aren't ready to be doing them. I believe this Y's regular rate is about $70 a month, though there are scholarships, young professional and family rates. On the plus side, this Y has both outdoor and indoor Olympic-sized pools, which are quite nice, so it's a great place for swimmers and for families, especially in the summer. There are a couple of good trainers here, and the members are also polite, very friendly and respectful of one another. While there are a few equipment hogs in the small weight room space, most people will share equipment and work in. read more

Very welcoming and top rate staff at check in! Plenty to do and the facility is fine and clean. I expected downtrodden based on wimpy comments as to an 'old facility '. Old maybe but the swim and lift was great. Other members way nice. Plenty of kids since skool was closed but enough lap lanes and they open at 5 am!! Going back and they offer a three day free pass to check em out! Go to the website. Bring a lock, they have a water extractor for bathing suits & a scale. Digital clocks all around the pool. Best for me is the ability to suspend membership for a nominal $5 per month as we travel. Also membership comes with several guest passes. I also like an early start and a late finish for those two-a-day workouts. Additional Outdoor pool almost year round is way way cool. A winding set of hallways but plenty of cardio equipment and lifting areas (free weights and cybex). Many classes offered but I never use em, anywhere. Run, swim, lift, a fine place for me! Check it out. read more

A nice community feel, but the facilities need serious upgrading. The women's locker room is one big slip and fall hazard. There is a tiled floor leading from the locker room that is always wet and slippery, yet there's no traction mat on it. The outdoor pool is great when it's not crowded, but often very dirty and coated with leaves along the bottom. read more

I haven't been here in years, but when we went it was dingy, dirty (literally layers of dust on things), uncomfortable and just an unpleasant place to be. A while back, I received an email message that my bank draft had failed. Again, I haven't been a member in years. I told them this and to stop attempting to draft my account. I just got another message today. So not only are they expensive and their facilities subpar, but they are also either incompetent in their billing or dishonest. read more

Not an enjoyable place to workout but Ms. Singh in the babysitting room is awesome. I do have to say that I have gone to drop my daughter off and there have been 19 kids to 1 care provider and i did not feel comfortable leaving my daughter there. When I complained to management, they said they would do something about it but never did. Im pretty sure it's illegal to have 1 caregiver for that many small children, and this wasn't the only time there have been that many kids. I took Susan's core conditioning class a few years ago and I dropped serious weight, so that was a huge plus, and Marketa is a great personal trainer but Ive been underwhelmed with the rest of it. read more

This is a schlock operation if ever I saw one. I called the Greater DC Y that transferred me to Silver Spring voicemail 3x after the 3nd time the voicemail was full. I spoke with the executive director assistant who has a lot to learn about customer service. Right now I don't see the YMCA is the right fit for me. They are not financially competitive, therefore I will seek to spend my money elsewhere. Be very inquisitive and discerning before you give them your money read more

We don't use the Y for daycare, but for our gym. It's the BEST. Year round indoor and outdoor pools. New and well-kept machines. Fantastic FREE group classes (I love core conditioning and y-cycle). And relatively cheap specialized classes like swim lessons for kids or bellydancing or tai chi. The staff are all so kind and helpful. The price is better than anything else I've seen with comparable services. And they offer such support to the community! The only complaints I have? The building is a little old and outdated, and could use a renovation and the parking can be a little difficult on a busy night. Overall? My favorite gym that I've ever belonged to. read more

This place is unsafe. I have complained 3 times to management. Even talked to the director and NOTHING. Does someone have to get hit in the face with a free weight before they take safety seriously. The free weight room is chronically over crowded with personal trainers standing around with clients yakking up a storm. The room is maybe 10 x 20 and there are routinely 10 people in there throwing big heavy metal up in the air. I can't tell you how many near misses that I have had! The pool is typical the bathroom showers are disgusting and moldy. The kids programs are ok but the pool is almost unusable during peak hours. This place costs way too much money. There are other places that are 1/3 of the cost who will at least be safe. read more

My daughter has been going to the YMCA daycare/preschool for 2 years now. I LOVE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR HER. The staff is wonderful. She is a little swimmer now because the daycare provides year round swim lessons (included). The preschool manager/principal (Teresa) is WONDERFUL and on top of things. Love that the hours are 630am- 630pm too! I am so impressed with how much my daughter has learned. From writing her name and letters and numbers, to speaking spanish, to singing songs, to reciting stories. I love love love this school and will be bringing all of my future kids here. BRAVO YMCA SILVER SPRING PRESCHOOL! I am so lucky to have found you! read more

Been a member for many years. The YMCA is a good gym for families. They have programs for all ages. The two pools are aging but serviceable. Both my kids learned to swim there. It was nice to have as a winter activity. They have a good location near the Beltway with a good amount of free surface parking. As a facility for a fitness minded adult it's fair. Lanes in the pool are reserved for lessons on many weekend hours. At certain times the locker rooms are full of kids. During the summer the kids from camp will swarm the facility. Their mission includes community service activities so those programs will sometimes trump regularly scheduled classes. The fitness machines are maintained fairly well although broken machines can stay broken more than a week. The update the equipment every 2-3 years. The HVAC in the facility is old. Usually it's alright but, like the fitness machines, if it breaks it's often not repaired immediately. The fitness class offerings are plentiful but not updated frequently. They often rely on just a few instructors so if that person leaves or quits the schedule can have holes. During the day they're oriented towards Seniors. Generally they offer whatever is mainstream. You won't find new or innovative fitness offerings at the YMCA. Their building space is limited so some offerings will never make it there because they don't have space for the equipment. Some offerings require extra payment. read more

They have new equipment in one room now. Other than that...cardio equipment is not dated but a little grimy. Swimming Pool is nice...they have an outdoor heated pool! Weight room has good equipment but is a bit stuffy! Staff is nice ....buy watch out for old sweaty naked men in the saunas -__- read more

We were a member of the Arlington YMCA and I really enjoyed my experience there. I was excited to be purchasing a home near the Silver Spring branch, thinking that I would enjoy this location the same as Arlington. I emailed to inquire regarding membership and despite the automatic response email promising a reply to my question within 24 hours, no reply was ever received. So a week later, I call at 11:30am on a Wednesday. No answer. Odd. I check the number and call back. A woman answers and I ask to speak to someone about membership. She says "ummm.... sure I guess." She places me on hold. After 6 minutes on hold, I hang up. I call right back, no one answers but I leave a message. No one returns my call. If it's this hard to inquire about membership, I wonder what it would be like if I had an actual problem, concern or even question..... Too bad they will never know as they will never see a dime of my money. read more

For me to give one star you know this place sucks. We took out a membership looking forward to swimming this summer. We have attempted to swim 5 times only to find out the entire pool is sectioned off into laps, and one small lane is put aside for recreational swimming. So 30 people in one lane, 4 in the rest of the pool. I complained and revived a call from Aquatics director, he said they will make 2 Lanes for us non structured swimmers. Never happened!! The indoor pool is not functioning nor is the baby pool, or as I call it,"West Nile Pond" it is full of disgusting crap. To add to this ridiculous chaos, there had to have been 100 small children there for what they call a"SWIM CAMP", no kidding, what a joke!! School is not even out yet, I can not imagine how bad this will get. People were taking infants in diapers in the big pool as they had no other choice. This place is health hazard to utmost degree!!! Anyone who paid to send their children here for swim camp should remove them. SHAME ON YOU YMCA THIS PLACE SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN. read more

So I'm really torn about how to rate the Silver Spring Y. I was a member there for 2 years before canceling my membership. I joined because I was taking swim lessons and training for triathlons, so it was nice to have a heated outdoor pool as well as an indoor pool that opened at 5AM. I paid about $80 a month for a family membership, which was great considering if we had all joined a gym it would have been over $200 a month, and most gyms don't have pools. Now for the downside. The facility is old and run down and I don't think it was ever really meant to be a gym; maybe back in the day it was only meant to be a swim club. It's sad because I have seen some really nice YMCA's. However this one, as far as the facility ranks dead last. Because the facility is so old, it seems that something is always going wrong, especially in the winter time. Many times the outdoor pool couldn't open because of boiler problems, which meant the indoor pool would become extremely crowded. In the summer, it becomes even more crowded, as I'm sure many other Y's do. It's great that they have summer camps for kids, after all the community is what they are all about. However the facility itself is simply too small and not setup to handle summer camp in addition to the normal day to day patrons. If you're looking for just a pool you should be Ok. If you're looking for a gym, you might want to look other places. read more

I enjoy the Life Fitness cardio equipment that is well-maintained. I also enjoy the two large pools and it's nice that the outdoor pool is kept open year-round. The reason that I'm shopping for a new gym is the expensive monthly fee, constant annual assessments for community programs, and the dilapidated building that is annoying. Other local gyms offer the same equipment, cheaper monthly dues, and many free classes. Many of the classes at this YMCA require purchase in spite of our $70 monthly fee. With these fees it's becoming more difficult to accept rusted, bent lockers from the 1950's, uneven floors, and inconsistent temperatures in the many rooms. I'm sick of this! read more

In an era of boutique fitness studios, the SS YMCA is an unabashedly old school facility with lots of options. If you're a swimmer, it stands out for having both an indoor and outdoor pool that are kept open year 'round. It's also great for parents with young kids, thanks to its free childcare. The facility includes a large outdoor field, a basketball court, a good selection of exercise machines, weight machines and free weights. It also offers a wide range of classes, including Les Mills offerings like Body Pump, Zumba, indoor cycling, yoga, Pilates, and classes aimed at older adults. The staff are friendly and accommodating. The facility itself is in great need of an overhaul, but it retains members who value it for being a one-stop shop with a comprehensive range of options that can meet the needs of everyone in the family. read more

The parking lot is always packed. The pool water is always cloudy. In six years, I have never once seen a lifeguard actually ask someone to shower before entering the water. Families are always confined to a small corner of both pools, while whole lap lanes go unused. And $10 for guests is half what every other pool in the county charges. Campers and swim lesson groups are constantly kicking out families (though it's unclear to me why they're given a priority?) And yes, as others have noted, the entire infrastructure looks as though it hasn't been updated in 30 years. Very dreary. On the plus side though, the staff do seem genuinely friendly and trying to the best they can with obviously very limited resources. Just to follow up: For less than half the price of the Y, Montgomery County gives you access to ALL of their much nicer pools through the All Access/Pool pass program: http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/rectmpl.asp?url=/content/rec/how/membership.asp#all_pool This includes four indoor aquatic centers, 7 outdoor pools with water slides, rivers, splash parks. Really kicking myself for wasting my money at the Y all these years. read more

It's decent for the value. I had an issue with security, where one of the staff members accessed the system and started texting my phone number. Despite reaching out to the management, they were unable to take any disciplinary action against the employee. Makes for an awkward experience, since I see that employee every time I visit. The classes are okay, but I wish they would have more modern music (hip hop or rap) for the dance classes. The circuit training room is all brand new, and they have some new aerobic machines, but it's still pretty small. Family friendly! read more

I don't see my previous review from a couple of weeks ago. Was it deleted? Why? I'll say it again. I've been a member for several years and I've had enough with the poor management that can't seem to keep the outdoor pool open when it is supposed to be open. Staff apparently just don't show up (and no backup?), weather policies seem to be implemented arbitrarily and/or improperly on many occasions. Besides the front desk staff, people who work there don't seem to care and nothing has changed for the better over the years. I will be going to the Bethesda branch now despite living less than 1 mile from the SS location. read more

I am so, so sad about the YMCA DC. Over the past decade, I've had SO many problems with billing. Buyer, beware! They will charge you for months on end, and pleas to cancel or change facilities or upgrade or downgrade fall on deaf ears until you are seriously going out of your mind. Then finally someone on staff will go to Herculean lengths to solve your problem. Basically: management systems are ghastly. The Silver Spring pool is GORGEOUS. We joined about a decade ago for a few months, and then spent more months disentangling ourselves. Then when we had dear family friends visit from abroad, we signed up again so we could take their kids to summer camp. Again, another ghastly experience trying to STOP the charges. And I've started up twice with best of intentions to work out more often and wooed back by the feeling that I'm supporting this wonderful nonprofit with a cool history...NIGHTMARE WITH THE BILLING! Over charges. Not changing things they say they can change. Then when someone finally spends an ungodly amount of time fixing what should never have needed fixing, they give you a CREDIT rather than a refund and you still can't get out of the loop! I have been trying to cancel my current membership for FOUR months now. It's awful. We do love that outdoor pool. Even now, I remember wonderful mornings swimming and then sitting in the lawn chairs afterwards. And how great for our little boy to get to play there! If you are 100% confident that you will NEVER have to cancel or make any changes to your membership level, go for it. read more

I signed my niece up for swim lessons here and it's absolutely amazing. The price is very reasonable and the coaches are very sweet. The reason that I don't give it 5 stars is because the outdoor pool is extremely dirty. Nobody ever uses is it. They always use the indoor pool instead. But sometimes the swim team has to practice in the outdoor one. The pool has some serious discoloration. You can tell it has been urinated in many many times. It's filled with old leaves from the fall and dirt. While my niece is at her swim meets her mother and I usually go up into the weight room and workout while watching her swim. They have made some changes to they weight room that I'm not very fond up. It is much more cluttered and weights are Always on the ground that are very simple to Trip over. The stench is very appalling and the janitors seem to not give a damn about cleaning the place. We thought to give this place a second chance and signed my niece up for their summer camp. The counselors are all teenagers looking for summer jobs. The youngest counselor I've seen is fourteen years old. I see them talking lots of foul language around the children. Hey have them play in the heat for hours and don't even think to take the children inside for some water. The place is absolutely filthy. And for an expensive camp you would think that they would at least make the children come home happy but everyday they come home aggravated by the way the counselors treat them. He swim team is great but I don't think you should sign your kids up for the summer camp. Unless you want your children being left with irresponsible teenagers teaching them racial slurs. read more

My 2 grandkids from overseas loved the Y summer camp. Friendly and smily staff, great facility. Meena Suri was so helpful during the admission process. Thanks so much Y and Meena! read more

Unfriendly staff... crowded parking lot (some people have to wait to someone leaves) and $10 bucks for other Y members to use it... no bueno! read more

I go to the Y for their gym. They have indoor and outdoor pools, both open year round and the outdoor one is heated during the cooler months. They have a good selection of cardio and weight machines, but their free weights room is a bit lacking. it's rather small and becomes smaller once you add in weight racks and benches. read more