Yelp moved stuff around on me. They removed this review which ended up on the Downey High School...
This review is for the "Mommy/Daddy and Me Session #1" which was held at the Downey High School Aquatics Center.
The class was Monday - Friday, July 6 - July 17, 2015 from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. for a total of 10 sessions.
Fees for residents were $55 per child and $59 for non-residents. That's basically $5.50 per class. Children were required to be older than 6-months-old but younger than 4-years-old to get in the class.
To sign up, I had to enroll both of our daughters in person because their birth certificates had to be presented. This was fine since I didn't care to pay the convenience fee that applies to all online registrations.
Class summary: "This class is designed to orient children to the water where they will begin to learn basic safety skills, breath control, floating, kicking and paddling. Parent or guardian must participate in the water with the child. Up to two adults per child permitted in the water."
Additionally, the kiddos used life jackets, paddle boards, and squirting toys in the pool. We gathered in a circle and sang songs every once in a while. Let the kiddos sit on the wall above the pool and let them jump in "Humpty Dumpty-style." We also submerged our children's heads which I didn't think our own children would like, but they saw the older kids going (quickly) under water and did just fine.
Our class started out with 15 babies/toddlers in the pool with as many or more parents. On the final day, not even half that many showed up. I think this was a bit disheartening for our instructor.
Speaking of our instructor, Marissa, was great! She deserves 5 stars in her own right. She was attentive to our needs. Very courteous. Flexible - like when our youngest didn't like the life jacket she said it was fine to take it off and try something else. Nice young lady. What I liked most about Marissa, though, was she was aware of everyone in the pool around us - meaning the other classes and the kids who decided to run on the concrete just beyond the pool. Oh, and she was the only instructor who said anything to this kid who was climbing up the pole right where the canopies were. She gave a certificate of merit & a lollipop to each child after our final class. Stuff like that means all the world even to a 2-year-old.
My family of four enjoyed the class. Any longer and our babies would not have handled it well. The half hour session was perfect. It was fairly chilly in the water on days that were a high of about 75 degrees Fahrenheit with a breeze. Otherwise when the temperature reached at least 90 it was nice.
I'm not too privy on pool maintenance, but I don't believe it was heated. Also, I'm almost certain it is cleaned with a salt system.
The reason for 3 stars is simple: The bathrooms and locker area were pretty disgusting most of the time. It's an outdoor facility, so I expected it to be mildly dirty with footprints and water splashed about. But most days the toilets were gross and the sinks and countertops were scattered with hair. Toilet paper was strung out & the bathroom stall trash cans were overflowing. Puddles of water were in various places and all along the tile where the walls met the floor. My husband said it was gross in the men's area too.
I support my community no matter what, but I also know that City of Downey and Downey High Aquatics Center can do better than this. I've seen it done countless times at other places - much lesser towns than Downey.
Parking can be a B to the i-t-c-h, but there's no need to drive like an ass over it - especially since high school students may be driving there too.
This all being said, I would still recommend this class to parents and their children.
Review #375
Yelp challenge 2015 56/100 read more
