I go to this Y because I can walk to it after work, and then walk home afterward. It's pretty much perfect. I used to go to the Western Family Y on Kirkwood Hwy when I lived out there, so basically this is my comparison of the two.
Pros:
-I've never had to wait for any cardio machine, and maybe only once or twice for a weight machine I wanted to use. Granted, I go from about 3pm to 5pm each day, but I have gone later and though it does seem to get pretty "full" it's never ever been at jam-packed level where there's waiting. In fact, they don't even have a system for waiting like other Y's do with signing up for machines or holding a card or anything.
-Big!facility! I don't even know half of what's in there but there's a lot! I work with a gentlemen who uses the pool in the mornings and he loves it.
-Clean, large locker rooms. I practically know the lady who cleans the locker room because I see her whenever I'm in there. Maybe she just happens to clean it at that time and it gets yucky at other times of the day but I doubt it. While we're at it, the card-swiping is nice. I don't think the Western Y has any sort of locks on the locker room doors, though I never really used them. It is nice to know some random guy can't go walking in there willy nilly.
-Plus Locker Rooms. These are REALLY NICE and I think this is the only Y in Delaware that has anything like it. In the ladies' there is coffee, zen music playing, magazines, hair/body products, and of course the steam room and sauna. Granted, it's a little pricey @ something like $25 extra a month. But if you've got it, and you want it, it's there.
Cons:
-Parking lot is small, considering how many people can be in the building at once. I must say I do enjoy watching people circle around waiting for a spot while I'm running, since the window looks right out over the lot. If you live in town and can walk to the Y, I'd suggest it. I've never had a problem finding a parking spot at off times of the day-- it's pretty much just the workout "rush hour" of 4pm to maybe 6pm? But after 5 the ING lot across the street opens so it's not a big deal anyway.
-Cleanliness. I don't notice as many people wiping off their machines as people at the Western Y. I mean, everybody!always! wiped their machines there, while maybe only about half of the people do here. Also not a big deal, just wipe it yourself before you start if it's an issue for you.
Also, there are always a lot of people working, but I never see them cleaning anything. General dusting and maintenance must be done on the machines, and I never see it. The workers at the other one were always wiping stuff down. I used an elliptical here one day and there was so much caked mud that it actually affected the tread. Ew.
All in all, I love it, and would be very sad if for some reason I had to stop going! read more
