The pool itself is nice, with a very shallow area for young toddlers and a deeper area for older…read morekids to swim. The parking lot is tiny, though, so it's very hard to visit if you don't live close enough to walk. They also have very frequent and lengthy times you have to get out of the water during lifeguard shift changes, so we were never able to spend very much time actually in the pool when we visited.

It's really fun, but they take us out a certain time for a pool Check it is really safe, but I…read moredisagree with a person that said they had to take us out at a certain time they put a four star so actually safe

Actual name to use when looking up hours: Veterans Memorial Pool…read more For the convenient location in Cambridge, I was surprised that the pool wasn't at all crowded when visiting on Sunday afternoons this summer! There aren't very shallow areas for the toddlers like there are at some of the other DCR pools, such as Connors Memorial Pool in Waltham, which probably helps to keep the crowds down. But the pool is very spacious and has enough space both for lap swimmers and kids playing. The spray deck just outside is great for the younger kids, too.

I had a previous review on here stating that the pool had no shade on the decks and the changing…read morerooms did not have privacy walls. It's a year later and they've done extensive updates to the pool location. 1. There's now an ADA regulation ramp with rails going into the pool for those in wheelchairs or who have trouble walking. 2. They added easier steps and hand rails for children and families to enter at the opposite end (long stairs that slope gently instead of ladder style.) 3. They have added permanent shade awnings around the pool, along with wooden benches underneath them (definitely still try to come early because those get snapped up quickly.) 4. The changing rooms are the same, but entering the locker rooms, there is now almost a rubberized "curtain" of small strips to walk through that creates privacy. Previously anyone walking by in the main corridor could see directly in. 5. The splash pad/fountain area has awnings and benches around it, and is ADA accessible. As of summer of 2023, the pool is open 7 days a week from 11:15AM-6:00PM. The changes have greatly improved the property, and it's a place where you can come and stay all day instead of roasting on hot concrete. They also have water fountains and outdoor showers along the pool deck for getting a quick drink and rinsing off.

This is a very beautiful pool. I wish it were available more often, but the building is, after…read moreall, a public school. It's worth adjusting one's schedule for at least one or two visits, especially during summer heat waves. The showers offered privacy, but -- during my visits during heat waves -- no hot water. The Cambridge YMCA on Mass Ave. also offers cold showers only. My issue is with another post here that the pool at Somerville YMCA on Highland Street is inferior. I've been swimming there since the 1980s. Compared to many local pools, it's Buckingham Palace. The building dates back to 1904, which is an automatic turn-off for many people, even though Somerville YMCA is kept clean & orderly and offers everything you need to stay fit and toned. I love the beautiful old tiles that line the pool room walls and the peaceful atmosphere for lap swimming without someone else's music blasting away -- as at the MIT pool, to "keep the lifeguards awake." If the windows were unsealed to admit natural light, it would be perfect. To swim a mile, you must do 44 laps. Some experienced swimmers find this confining, but it's just right for beginning/moderate swimmers. The showers are excellent; for a little extra money, there's the women's and men's health club rooms, which offer secure lockers, curtained private showers, towels, and a small gym with plenty of equipment. Ginny Smith offers kick boards, but not fins. You must carry in all your gear and take it with you when you leave. The separate shallow pool is a perfect place to do shallow-water aquatics or physical therapy workouts. Lifeguards friendly & helpful. Desk staff -- during my few visits -- seemed inexperienced and inadequately trained. Perhaps there's too much staff turnover: my guess. A must-visit pool.

I actually had a very pleasant swim during the senior lap swim session. The pool was a nice…read moretemperature and not too crowded. When I went to take a shower post swim, I discovered that many of the showers don't work. With the help of other patrons, I found one that was OK. Kind of a bummer that most don't work. On the way out, I met the director of the pool and mentioned the showers. She was the snippiest and rudest admin person I've come across in a long time. Full of herself and with a big time attitude ... "I'm not a plumber!" she told me. Oh my gosh - who hired her?! Not a person you would want representing such an important and promising facility.

The pools have been beautifully renovated, and entrance now costs a dollar. There is an adult pool…read morethat's about 10ft deep in one end and 3.5' deep in the other, and a very nice toddler pool that is 1' at the shallowest and 3' at the deep end. The crowd is mostly parents with kids, and teenagers. Families bring rings, kickboards, and other water toys in. It's a very relaxed local vibe. You can come in with a stroller. No shade in the middle of the day, but there is reasonable shade in the later afternoon. Capacity is capped at 100. Adults need proof of Cambridge residency (license, water bill, etc.). Kids do not need an ID.

This is how citified and vulgar I am: Screw the beach. Screw Cape Cod. Give me a municipal outdoor…read morepool, staffed by indifferent teenagers in sun-bleached red swimsuits, surrounded by shadeless concrete, overly chlorinated, possibly contaminated with toddler pee, and overrun with screaming tweens plus that one kid who goes swimming in cut-off jeans. Charge me seventy-five cents to get in, and make me bring my own deck chair and snacks. I'll love you for it, because I'm easy, and not just because you're like a mile from my apartment. Today was 90-plus degrees and sunny. Some people retreated indoors, camping out in movie theaters or hiding in their homes to do sexual things with ice cubes. I disdain such shrinking violets, and prefer to embrace the swelter with a book, a big bottle of water, shades, tunes, and a swimming pool five steps away. Get wet, take a few laps, and be cool for half an hour of reading, easy. Rinse, repeat. Pause occasionally to take in the scene, and take note of potential cannonballers who'll splash water all over your reading material. There's shade against the locker rooms if you are fish-belly white (like me) and a little set of sprinklers over by the shallow end. Remember your sunscreen!

Nice pool. Good for lap swimming. Clean, just wished it was open earlier so I could go before…read morework starts.

Kids of all ages are required to have supervision but the adults/supervision get charged even if…read morethey don't go in the water- obviously a huge ripoff. The pool isn't temperature controlled, it's quite cold on the shallow side but tolerable in the lap lanes. I saw ants on the pool deck so be careful where you put your belongings. The slide is old and useless. This pool is honestly really pitiful, especially for being on an Air Force base- you're better off just going to the beach for free.

Terrible experience and extremely disappointing. This place has so much potential and could be such…read morea great resource for the community, but the way it is being run and the way the staff treats people completely ruins the experience. The female lifeguards were rude in general to the public. They kept staring at us and pointing at us, which made us extremely uncomfortable. The pool checks were also poorly communicated, and nobody clearly explained what the actual purpose of them was. The head lifeguard was just as rude and unprofessional. What made the experience even worse was that after we left because we were uncomfortable, we were literally stopped and pulled aside by the staff and accused of lying about having a child with us just to get into the pool. We did NOT lie. We have been at the pool. We had our belongings inside and everything was already set up. Two of us left because a lifeguard told a mother in the water near us that she could not be in the pool with the floaties she had. Since it was extremely hot out and we wanted her child to actually be able to enjoy the pool, we went all the way back home to grab a life jacket we had so mind you the third person with us was still there at the pool with all our stuff waiting for us to return with said life jacket for the baby. We were rushing back specifically so she could get back in and enjoy the pool. So to then be stopped, accused of lying and treated like we were doing something wrong was completely ridiculous. We only needed about an hour at the pool, and somehow that short visit turned into an uncomfortable and frustrating experience. The staff's attitude, the staring, pointing, lack of communication and then accusing us of lying was enough to make it very clear that we will not be returning. It is honestly a shame because this place has so much potential and could be something really great for the community if it were run by people who actually knew how to treat families with basic respect and kindness. One visit was more than enough.

What a great place to spend a day! Plus it's free thanks to DCR! The facilities are clean - shower,…read morechanging rooms and bathrooms. The pool is huge. Lifeguards are present and they test the pool quality every hour or so. The kiddie area is blocked off so perfect for families who want to dunk their kids and not to be disturbed by other swimmers. Don't want to swim? There is a splash pad when you leave the pool area. There is also a playground with picnic tables within 2 min walk. I saw four swings for babies/toddlers and swings for older kids are behind the slides. Street parking.

If you just want to swim and do not care about state of art facility, this place is for you. You…read morecan book your own swim lane for daily lap swim.

If you are just interested in a summer pool membership, the Wayland pool is a bargain. No tennis…read morecourts. No camps. No baby sitting. Just a glorious outdoor pool. It's actually a nice pool. 10 lanes. They devote a couple lanes for lap swim. The deep end is 10' so they have a great diving board. And the bubble comes down for the summer making it a glorious outdoor pool. Bubble up, IMO, isn't worth the membership. Afternoons and evenings are rented out to swim teams. Typically all 10 lanes. They may have 1 lane open for free swim. But the diving boards aren't available. And it's not much fun being limited to 1 lane, especially with the hordes of swim teamers and their gawking parents. (Edited to correct glaring typos)

Great pool! Clean! Very good Senior water exercise class! Parking is a problem during st cleaning…read moretime!