I have been coming to this branch since 2013. This is a very, very small branch, without a pool, and is part of the East Bay YMCA Association. They used to belong to the YMCA of the Central Bay Area before they merger with East Bay YMCA in 2017. Before that, they were part of the Berkeley-Albany Association in 2011 or so. It is located on a crowded, one-way residential block where there are a few apartment buildings and houses.
Members of this YMCA can use at other YMCA in the association, such as the Hilltop YMCA in Richmond, Downtown Berkeley YMCA, Downtown Oakland YMCA, and Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA in Pleasant Hill. They also can use almost any YMCA in northern California through the My Y is Every Y Program, as well get limited use of other YMCA's in the country and Canada through the AWAY Program (Always Welcome at the Y).
They give you a regular wallet card, but not a keychain card, that you scan when you enter. They used to keep your card while in the facility, but that changed when they modernized in 2017. There is an app too, but it is just basic and not well maintained. I am not even sure why they have it.
This branch underwent extensive renovations in 2017. They added a brand-new upstairs cardio room (used to be offices), which have a view to the downstairs gym/classes. So there are now two cardio rooms: upstairs and downstairs. There is no elevator or accessibility for the upstairs though. Both rooms have Precor AMT's, Precor treadmills, and Precor ellipticals. There are bikes both upstairs and down stairs, but they vary in type. The rowing machines are upstairs. I believe there is a stair stepper downstairs (the kind where you push your feet up and down and hold the grips, not the escalator type).
They also added a new front facade, renovated the locker rooms, renovated the front desk area, enlarged the downstairs office area, and added first floor stretching, free weight, and TRX areas. They also added improved handicap accessibility and added climate control. They added new bike racks too outside. I think they still have child care, but I am not sure where it went, as they turned it into a free weight area.
Both machine and free weights are on the first floor.
There are also new medicine balls, kettle bells, rollers, and exercise balls on the first floor. There are stretching areas both upstairs and downstairs.
There is a small gym where they have classes. I suppose you could also shoot baskets when available, but I have never seen anyone do this. Some people run around the perimeter. They do (or used to??) have a children's kindergym on the weekend where toddlers can play on a playground they bring in.
They do not have spin class, since they lack the bikes and space to put them.
There are men's and women's locker rooms with showers on the first floor. The women's locker room has three showers, including one handicap accessible, three toilets, and four sinks. There is a hair dryer to use. I am not sure about the men's. Access to the women's locker room is through the fitness area, unless the gym is not in use.
There is no towel service or lockers for rent. There used to be towel service for a fee, but they ended that in 2015 or so.
There is free wifi, which is strong. Some cardio machines have cardio theaters with cable channels.
They have water dispensers that accommodate bottles.
There are no small outside lockers, but they do have cubby holes for storage. There is a can by the door to put your wet umbrellas.
There is no free coffee or senior citizens group. There is a plush, but small, waiting area.
Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
There are at least three external defibrillator machines throughout.
Parking is hit or miss. There is no lot, and you must park on the street, but parking is very tight, even at night, unless you come before 7 AM on weekdays or before 8 AM on weekends. Most people bike or walk. There are plenty of bike racks outside. You might have to walk a half-block or block after finding parking. Certain upper-level employees have their own private parking a half-block away.
The employees are very polite and friendly.
They also feature summer camp for kids.
They used to have a shut-down week each year for maintenance and cleaning, but no longer.
I am giving them only four stars since they lack parking. I like gyms without pools, since kids use them, and they can be a nightmare in the locker rooms (always screaming and crying and spilling Cheerios all over the floor). The locker rooms are cleaner too, without water everywhere. read more