Metropolitan Swimming Pool

I love to move around vigorously in this historic storage closet for broken machines and equipment. The machines that don’t have an out of order sign are also out of order

Closed for about a year now with no real reason or date, for reopening. What a shame. Really poor customer service.

Small cardio and strength rooms. In cardio room a few of the machines are down. Let's see how long it takes for repairs. Pool, cardio, strength, locker rooms all clean. Price is definitely worth it.

I've been pretty much going here my whole life. This place has gotten better since I was a child. You get what you pay for, the gym is not the most elite and the showers/lockers can be dirty after certain times, but honestly for the price you are getting a big pool throughout the year. I believe if you are under 21 it's free, which is amazing. Still reasonable after that age and you pay up front for the whole year, so no need to track any monthly payments. It's fine for when you just want to swim and go, no frills.

Clean great pool indoors. Great staff an friendly neighborhood. Free Learn to swim an General swim for families. Advice to call there number for questions.

7 months and no sign of ventilation repairs being done, pretty pathetic. OPEN THE DAMN POOL!

The locker room is just so hard to deal with- huge hair clumps, showers smell like pee, blackness everywhere but there are lockers- BYOlock. The pool itself is OK- the bottom is awfully stained with brown who knows what but the water is relatively clean; like I've never seen anything floating in it and it's not cloudy. But man this pool gets crowded- three lanes and anywhere from 5-9 people in a 25 yard lane. Everybody seems to think their breast stroke is a great workout and it's really hard to pass- so don't come here for speed work or plan on smooth constant laps.

This is a review only about the pool area, haven’t been upstairs. It can get crowded at times but for a local pool it’s a great option. Be prepared to be swimming with multiple people to a lane, at peak times it can be a little overwhelming but always worth it. Don’t forget your lock!

So this place is temporarily closed. I am not sure if the lazy front desk employees had anything to do with it, cause they refused to sign up new members they said that they only do that 1 or 2 days a week. So maybe due to the decline in membership they might have decided to close this branch. But either way just a heads up it's closed.

I really love this retro pool and for the price and location it is really great. Front desk staff always very friendly. Lifeguards are also very friendly. There are some management issues with the pool I would address though. The chlorine is WAY TOO high. Your eyes will burn, your hair will be super dry and any clothes that I put on after my swim that get wet have bleach spots over them. They need to really regulate the chlorine levels. Also, since they usually only have one lifeguard on the pool, that lifeguard should be in the middle (side) of the pool. The guard is way off into the corner, leaving complete blind spots in the deep end of the pool. There are not many strong swimmers at the pool (ie: designated women's lap swim) so to leave the deep end essentially a giant blind spot is unprofessional and dangerous . otherwise, i can always find a spot to swim at the General Lap swim.

Few guards at pool is not trustworthy. We thought this is the best pool. But ppl whore coming here, some of them are very rude and make up the stories as well. I'm very disappointed!!

I stopped coming to the pool here a few years ago and decided to come back. I usually go in the evenings and the life guards actually say hello this time around. The last batch just looked through you. Seems more welcoming now. Anyway, it's clean. The shower is always very warm. It does get crowded sometimes, but still a great place to get a swim.

I go here to swim sometimes. I complained that they need adult/senior Aerobics classes. They need to replace the lockers which are old. The hooks by the pool need to be replaced some have fallen out. The pool is a great place to swim in a great location in my neighborhood. I travel to another pool in Manhattan to learn to swim and do my water aerobics class. Not fair

Great place, to weight train in weight room, swim in pool, or practice personal stretching, or plyometrics, and calisthenics in gymnasium.

I frequented this pool several times just for their adult swimming lessons via the NYC Parks Dept website. The pool was huge and appeared clean. The staff were okay whenever I went. They stress and watch you like a hawk to make sure you have a locker for your personal belongings. The locker rooms were big and clean and you were always able to find a locker. They had showers and areas to get dressed. Thankfully the times that I went it was closed to the public to give more one on one to students learning to swim or to participate in an aquatic exercise group. Unfortunately I didn't learn how to independently and confidently learn how to swim at this wonderful pool. I am still a work in progress but I would definitely return here to chill in the pool and do my own thing.

In order to participate in the NYC Parks' Learn to Swim classes, you "must be members of an NYC Parks recreation center." My son and I have been members for a little over a month. During the weekly Saturday swimming classes, the water temperature has been less than desirable. The locker room and bathroom have always been clean. It is truly an art to pack everything into those small lockers. Based on their schedule, I am underwhelmed by the variety of activities available on-site. So I have not done a full walk-through of the facility (including the gym) to see what else this Center has to offer. I may just have to explore other Brooklyn centers to weigh out my options on where to spend the remainder of my six-month membership ($75).

For a public swimming pool & fitness center, this place isn't half bad. The whole first floor consists of a large pool with 3 general lanes - Fast, Medium, and Slow. There are men's and women's showers complete with lockers, just bring your own lock. Lifeguards are usually on duty when it's swimming hours. Call ahead before you go, but it's usually in the morning and the evenings for adult swims. Upstairs they have a fitness room, and a work out room. Last time I was there, the Air Conditioner was broken and there was a petition going around to get the Dept. of Parks and Rec to fix it. Most importantly, it's super cheap. Something like 40 bucks for 6 months, or 76 for a year. You can't beat that. Just make sure you bring a swim cap, they're mandatory.

Maybe I'm not used to public pools but here's the gist: Cons: - Caps not required so random strands of hair, clumps of hair, float around - Collection of band aids float around the bottom of the pool - Often crowded in the evening hours (adult lap swim) - have to wait your turn or swim around people - either way, you're getting kicked in the face at least once Pros: - Locker room is very clean compared to other rec centers - Annual membership fee for NYC rec centers is $150, really can't beat the price if all you want is an affordable pool to swim laps

Pretty nice pool in a good location, and I've never had trouble fitting into a lane there. It does get busy, but people are pretty easy going about making space. I haven't used facilities besides the pool, so I can't comment on their weight room or cardio setup.

I use the NYC Parks Department gyms because they're cheaper than most private gyms. My "home" gym is the East 54 Street gym in Midtown, Manhattan. Recently, however, my work hours changed. I have to work on Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM. That wouldn't leave me enough time to go to my gym, which closes at 4 PM. Rather than to lose a day of working out or paying a ridiculous amount of money to join the Y, I looked for a NYC Parks Department gym with later Saturday hours. The gym also had to be located within a short distance from Manhattan. After meticulously searching the NYC Parks Department website, I found this gym, which is open until 5:30 PM on Saturdays. Today was my first time visiting this gym. However, even before today, I was vaguely familiar with this gym since it was in the news last year. A bunch of Hasidic Jews wanted to have a women's-only time slot in the pool. I'm not really familiar with their religion, but apparently, women in that religion don't want to be seen by men other than their husbands while they're wearing swimsuits. I personally feel that if they want special privileges then they should build their own gym. Nevertheless, it's women-only. It's not like it's whites-only. I'm not going to lose sleep over this. Anyway, what I like about this gym: Excellent weight room. They have a squat machine, bench press, ab machine (which is really helpful for me since I need to get rid of my love handles), pull-up bars, as well as other standard weight room equipment. The cardio room has plenty of treadmills and exercise bikes. When I went to the weight room and cardio room, they were empty (though quite a few people were heading to the pool). Apparently, hipsters don't work out on Saturday afternoons Shower water was nice and warm What I disliked about this gym: Lockers are way too small In order to go from the lockers to the showers and pool, you have to walk past the bathroom. Imagine doing that barefoot. There's always a mystery fluid near the stalls. I feel so nasty even after I shower. There's no tray to put your soap on in the shower. You can put it on the liquid soap dispenser, but it's a pain in the ass since it can slip Dislike that's not the fault of the gym: There are a whole bunch of pizzerias, bars, restaurants, bakeries, and food trucks on Bedford Avenue. It defeats the purpose of working out Will I come back? Yes, on Saturdays. This won't be my "home" gym since this location is semi-inconvenient for me (I live in Queens and work in Manhattan).

For the price you can't beat it $75 for 6 months, includes classes of which I highly recommend 'keep in step with pep' who is a great teacher. The pool can get busy but that's understandable as everything's busy around here.

To start, a few statements in defense of this pool: If it's too humid for you in the locker rooms in the summer - it's a locker room. In a pool facility. In the summer. You're going to spend the next hour or more in the water anyway, then go back outside where it's humid, then go down to the subway platform where it's as hot as Gerard Butler's crotch, then surface in some other place for more abuse. So shut the hell up and get in the shower. If it's too cold for you in the winter - welcome to New England/NY. Besides, a cold shower makes for easier adjustment to the temperature of a pool that's cool enough for actual lap swimming. If the conditions are dirty, quit blaming the staff. They didn't make the filth - the pool users did, and that includes those who obliviously left the place in greater disrepair since it wasn't chic enough to merit their respect. If your items were stolen - did you bring a lock, or do that "Williamsburg is for lovers" bullshit and stuff all your crap in a wide open locker? Moving on, maybe I was lucky, but when I walked in here today, I did not encounter a rude staff. Anyone generalizing that a bad attitude usually accompanies NYC pool staff should acquaint themselves with more of the city's 54 swimming facilities before finalizing their statements. Also, they do take credit card. It's cash they don't accept. The annual fee for ALL of NYC's indoor pools and exercise facilities has indeed risen to $150, but they also sell 6-month admissions for $75, so one loses nothing by committing to a shorter period. They do not process payment without a physical credit card. They do not offer one-day trials or one-day admissions. All this was a pain in my ass, but I knew I was the idiot with a memorized credit card trying to buy my way in at 7 p.m. on a weeknight. The three helpful men at the desk told me I'd have to wait 30 minutes for a guy to return from his dinner break before registering. I took sat at a wooden bench in somewhat of a huff, only to have one of the guys soften his stance and let me sign a little book, flash my ID, and go in. He told me I could come out and do the registration later rather than just sitting there. Let's rewind to the CHARACTER oozing from this brick building whether you know anything about its history or not. Emerging from the Bedford stop on the L - that portal of hipsters trolling to and from the city - I did the six block dash towards Metropolitan Avenue. Temptations were everywhere; bodegas, taco carts, Salvation Army, strains of Fleetwood Mac from a bar. Luckily, it was raining, I didn't have money, and I was on a mission. As I ascended the steps, a waft of pool steam knocked me back in time through the history of my own life of swimming and through history itself. Built in 1922 as a legit bath house (not where you go to relax in saunas, but where you go to literally take a bath) and opened in 1935 for recreational purposes, the pool was a feat of architecture at the time: http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/B085/highlights/188 One step through the door, and the pool was RIGHT THERE behind the front desk, behind glass. I could see the huge skylight ceiling and people going back and forth in the 75' lanes (36 round trips = 1 mile). The locker room was small, but well spaced and not filthy. The lockers were midsized, and held one large umbrella, my shoes, and my L.L. Bean backpack from the junior high days. True, a dripping wet hipster chick with an unlocked locker full of crap soon took over my area, but this happens in every pool facility in the world, both public and private. Proceeded to an open area where high showerheads with low water pressure dispersed the desired temperature of spray from an adjustable dial. It had no automatic shut off function, so right away that was an upgrade from my darling outdoor pools of summer. When I plunged into the fast lane, I saw that the entire tank was lined in brick shaped white tiles. It was simply amazing. And, after thrashing around all summer in a gigantic pool with no rules and CURRENTS, this pool appeared to me as what swimmers call a "fast" - I could literally feel the 7 feet of water in the deep end buoying me upwards and across the lane. Yes, it was crowded-like every fucking other place in the metropolis. I was just a bit slow for the showboaters in my lane but decidedly too fast for other lanes. So, I worked to keep up, and shrugged it off when the prick behind me touched my feet three times before finally (and barely) passing me, etc, etc. Later, the staff let me go when I blubbered that I wanted to come back with a different credit card because I'd get miles on it. Deepthroating a German chocolate bar on the train because I deserved it, I basked in that sensation of half quease and half exhilaration that comes from pushing yourself just the right amount past The Usual. Conclusion: this pool is FINE, maybe even great.

Well....its no Equinox, but it does the trick !! At $75 for 6 months, this has got to be the cheapest gym/pool combo in NYC. I'd highly recommend joining the Metropolitan Pool and Recreation Center. This place has treated me nicely over the past 6 months, and I am about to renew my membership. The pool has kinda whacky hours, but considering I don't work a 9-5, I always manage to find time to swim. Beware, if you try to swim at 6 pm it will be packed. The cardio room and the strength training rooms are both legit enough for the price. Nothing is state of the art, and there is not a flat screen tv anywhere to be found, but I thoroughly enjoy exercising here nonetheless. Bring a towel, bring a lock, try to go at off-peak times (because it isn't huge), & always check if the toilet has toilet paper before sitting down (yes, I had to learn the hard way).

I joined this place solely for the pool. I only go during the "adult lap" hours. It can get crowded but I've always had pretty productive swims. Really glad to have this walking distance from my place!

75 dollars for 6 months. If you need a workout or swim space, its functional. Its a NYC Govt gym. I call it Thug Gym. Its friendly enough, but the weight room and lockers are grim (The floor can indeed be wet in spots, people are coming from the pool to change). Heatless non private shower, as opposed to fancy NYSportsClub. Its literally the inverse of the amenity you get at the highpriced places! But if you need basic cardio/weight/swim and you have patience, this long-serving grim, non-spacious institution is a great resource. The pool has a schedule: for kidgroups, women only, open swim, etc. You MUST bring a towel and lock, or you'll be turned away if they check. Now go check it out and make your own comment.

Metropolitan Pool and Recreation Center $75/year or $37.5/6 months - access all NY Parks & Recreation Centers *Remember to bring a medium or full-sized towel and strong key lock. Okay staff. Indoor pool. Treadmills Ellipticals Steppers Recumbent Bikes Upright Bikes No power rack 1 x Flat Bench and Incline Bench 1 x Inverted Leg Press 1 x Cybex? Pull-up & Dip (V-Style) Station 1 x Cable Fly Limited Selection of Weight Machines Dumbbells 6 x 100 lb plates and enough 45s to max out an olympic barbell if you could lift that much. You can get very strong lifting here with a little imagination. Powerlifters see Brownsville for three 9 foot closed power racks! Or Thomas Jefferson for two open power racks. Or Asser Levy for one power rack (not recommended for +500 lb. lifts). Olympic Lifters see Lost Battalion Hall for a dedicated instruction and training facilities (additional fee required).

$75 a year! You can even pay for just 6mts at a time if money is tight. And with your membership you can go to any NYC rec center in the 5 bourghs! I like this location. It's near my house. The pool is clean and there are lots of lap hours. And the exercise room is decent.

They've done repairs! There's hot water in the shower and the pool is warm! The problem with the life guards opening all doors persists, so please, don't hesitate to bring up the issue with them... maybe they'll give in...

Who says working out in NYC can't be affordable (or even ridiculously cheap)? This place is $6/month. Seriously. Six dollars a month. No gimmicks, no commitments. With that said, it's a VERY basic gym... with a pool. There's a weight room (total sausage fest) and another room with treadmills and other cardio equipment. The walls are green. There is usually at least one treadmill broken at any given time. But you're not here for the frills, right? You're here because you want to save money and get a good workout in. You can do that here.

Prepare to bring your own swim cap, your own lock, your own towel, your own air conditioner and plenty of patience. I've been turned away for membership because they didn't "do" them on Sunday afternoons. I've waited in 20 minute lines only three people deep because they are super slow at the front desk. I've tried to enter the weight room and was stared down by every iron-pumping testosterone-loaded male -- and walked right back out. And I've been turned away by the Towel VIP at the door of the fitness room because I didn't know I had to bring one. Can't I just spray the machine after I'm done, you ask? Ha! You better bring your own spray bottle. Even if you remember to bring all the necessary equipment, you might have to wait in the air conditionerless room for a machine. And then when you get one, be prepared to have people stare at you and wait for your 20 minute limit to be up. It's not really anyone's fault: the room is tiny. Despite the fact that this place really tries my patience.... it's $75 a YEAR. Not a month. A year. And if you're on a tight budget and can handle the extra annoyances, this place might be perfect for you.

While they have a pool, it is not monitored nor respected sufficiently by most staff or members to allow for a productive workout without overarching effort when not crowded; often it's impossible. Devin A. is on-target here. Others may point out the seemingly marvelous price (soon doubling to $150/year, BTW), but make as many trips here as I have leaving with incredulous head shaking as your only exercise, and you might come to see it as a dubious value at any price. "Adult Lap Swim" is disingenuous. Half of those in the pool aren't swimming and those who are ignore the rules and have little swimming etiquette anyway - important when it gets crowded. Since no one on staff swims, there is no concept of the terms "fast," "medium," or "slow," thus rendering the lanes so-labelled utter absurdities. Expect lots of splashing. In the fast lane expect both resting sprinters and socializing waders; expect breast stroke, drag suits and float toys; expect center-lane and even same-side-out flip turns(Surprise, sucker!); expect macho butterfly displays. Expect to be kicked in the back and head while swimming a cool-down backstroke in the medium lane and save a bottle of Moet for when you can reach and maintain a practical heart rate in the fast lane - be sure to shake well F1-style and insert in the lifeguard's shorts; maybe then he'll get it.

Tiny little gym. Free is nice but the weight room is just sad. Few machines, and those in bad shape. Does not compare to the Asser Levy center on 23rd St (which I now realize was the peak of luxury!).

The Metropolitan Pool's only upside is its price, which has been well documented in other reviews. However, I've been a member for 6+ months now and there are some consistently, seriously frustrating elements. First, in the summer the men's locker room (and I'm assuming the women's) is insufferably humid; I sweat more changing into and out of my clothes than I do in the gym itself. Second, swimmers enter the locker room dripping wet, sit on the benches naked and generally make it impossible for everyone without flip-flops to change sneakers without either getting their feet wet or performing a balancing act atop their shoes. The swimmers have a "towel-off" area, mind, so their flooding of the locker room is rather inexcusable. Third, the staff is unfriendly, a fact that is unsurprisingly true for all New York City-sponsored recreation centers. The front desk grunts answers. Fourth, they have eight treadmills, but four of them have been broken since December. Four. Since December. In conclusion, the price certainly is in line with the services.

I used to go to this gym in the Spring and Summer of 2007. Then I stopped and went back for like one day in December of 2008 things were still the same. The cardio room is small and has very poor ventilation. The weight training area is as poor as it gets. I left this gym and signed up for the YMCA in L.I.C for $46 a month and $100 joining fee. I don't mind paying the price but I never really went there. The whole time, I probably went like 10 days altogether so this is my last month. I am coming back to this gym because for me it is perfect. It is only $37.50 for six months. I just go to use the cardio. Even though I said the gym is tiny and cramped up, I still think its worth paying $37.50 for 6 months rather than paying $46 a month for a membership that I hardly use. Bottom Line: If you are like me who go to the gym once in a blue moon and do not want to pay a lot somewhere else, this is your place!

I have tried to join this pool TWICE. Yesterday I went and the credit card machine didn't work (they don't take cash). Today I went with check in hand and the entire computer system was down! I no longer want to pay my pricey gym membership to use their pool, but it doesn't look like the city can get it together for me to swim in theirs. I imagine it will only get worse with the budget cuts coming up. The place is still getting two stars because I've been inside and it seems like a good deal...although remember, it is a city pool.

I joined in February 2009 when I moved to Brooklyn. As other reviewers have said, the price cannot be beat. I use the pool, the cardio machines and the weight room. In addition, there are capoeira and yoga classes offered for free each week. To add to the sweetness of this deal, the ID card gives access to all other NYC Rec Center facilities including the better renovated Chelsea and Flushing locations that do have amenities that could put some Bally's, YMCAs and NYSCs to shame. While I made the choice because it was fiscally sound, I would continue to use this facility because it meets my needs and I am pleased with the product. Even if I made more money or could afford better, why spend it? This is not only a great deal in the neighborhood and in Brooklyn, but this is also a great deal throughout all of NYC!!! Most of us are under 55, but once my 55th birthday comes around, if prices remain the same, I get all this for $10/year! I tried the pool at night for the first time, and it's definitely a different pool culture. It was much more crowded and a little less friendly. I'll have to get back to my 7 a.m. laps with the cute older Asian ladies. I find that the wait for a working cardio machine has increased. (There are currently about 6 of the 20 machines out of order as of last night.) The weight room is easier to navigate with less people in it - another thing that happens more in the morning. If you're into working out without the frills, but the added bonus of a sense of community, this is it. And again... you can get into any NYC Parks Dept. Rec Center. Check the website for centers with amenities you like.

Currently taking free swimming classes here (won a lottery from the NYC Parks system). The pool is a bit cold, but is clean and well kept. Locker rooms are acceptable (they have different sized lockers), but there are only a couple of showerheads and even fewer toilets.

Great area but the gym is small but not bad the pool is big and the staff is friendly, the bathroom is not very clean but always wear sandals and the lockers are ok ,for 25 a year i cant complaint is worth the money and there is always other ones around the city but this is a nice place to work out.

Metropolitan Rec Center pool in Williamsburg, Brooklyn has women only hours (Sunday 2:45PM - 4:45PM) which do not accommodate men. Having experienced gender discrimination at Asser Levy, I am upset and disappointed that this sort of discrimination is widespread in New York Rec Centers. New York Rec centers is a part of NY Park Systems that are publicly funded with tax dollars. As a public, tax-payer funded entity, the rec centers have an obligation to treat men and women equally in all respects. Seperate is NOT equal.

Sigh, I belonged to this gym for four years. This past year, when my membership expired, I didn't rejoin. Even though membership is only $75 a year, it was no longer worth any money to me to go to a gym that seemed to lately only have 2-3 working treadmills. (The broken ones would sit there broken for weeks or longer.) This situation leads to a line of waiting would-be runners, becoming angrier the longer they wait for each person's 20 minutes to be up. On the 20 minute limit: I understand everyone needs to have a turn. I understand that they more or less have to enforce the limit, because some people slowly walk on those things for an hour. However, 20 minutes is NOT LONG ENOUGH for a beneficial cardio workout. 30 minutes is the gym standard. Also, the employees can be downright nasty when they come in and yell at you to get off when you haven't even been on for your puny allotment. Also, I was denied entry once for wearing an athletic skirt (it's sweatpants material) over my leggings because I didn't want to wear leggings with nothing over them. Apparently, this wasn't "workout attire," despite the fact that I had been there dressed the same way dozens of times. Finally, if you're there during a pool time, be prepared to wade through a flood in the locker room.

Took too long to join - was turned away 3 times because the people who work there don't 'do' paperwork. Really. I go to this gym religiously 5-6 times a week. Its terribly aggravating and can't hold the amount of members it takes on. I ALWAYS have to wait for a treadmill or elliptical. They have bikes and step machines too so I get on those, but I want to RUN. They have a 20 minute limit on the machines, so you can't get much of a workout. Many members ignore it and stay on the machine for 40 minutes or so (which is great for a workout, but really really rude when there are people waiting - not cool). You get what you pay for. For $75 a year: Most machines are broken and lack proper programs. 20 minute time limit that many hipsters do not abide by. Most of the time you have to wait for a decent machine. The cardio room is obviously never looked over, updated, cleaned. Terrible smell throughout the building, mildewing and no air circulation. If you get there first thing in the morning, it reeks of rodents. Bathrooms are horrendous (ladies room always smells like urine). Staff is friendly and nice but fairly incompetent. Can't handle the amount of members. I only go here because I can't afford anything else and don't want to be a fatty. I have a soft spot in my heart for it. I'd gladly pay a little more if they expanded the cardio room to handle the membership.

I joined because I am currently participating in the swim lessons. For $75 for 6 months I would say that is very good. The pool is nice and the locker area is not bad. But I must say the bathrooms which is next to the lockers are not the best. I do see they have gym classes and activities for the kids which is good. After my lessons I think I will stay and enjoy the pool for swimming since it is a good price for all the things they have. Everyone so far has been nice as well. No isues from my part.

Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees. The staff just doesn't care. Don't expect smiles or to much help. Oh and be carful of going when they open and close as they open late and close early all the time. Yesterday they said they were open to 5;00. I went at 4:15 and they kicked me out at 4:30. When I asked about them about the time they said 5:00 means 4:30. Hahaha. Priceless. I ran down to the McCarren gym they stayed open till 5:00. I know that the metro pool isn't as nice as some of the other recreation centers but I wish they would just do their jobs. You aren't screwing your bosses over you screw with us when you don't do your job.

Do not join here. It is overcrowded as is. Have you ever imagined what it would be like to swim in a subway car full of people? Do you like not having any soap available in the showers even though there's a sign outside stating that by law everyone must take a shower with soap and water before entering the pool? Do you like broken lockers and getting your items stolen? Do you like to swim next to homeless people? Or people with long hair who don't wear swim caps? Then by all means, this pool is for you. The sad thing is that this place could be great if management cared more about it, but they are lazy. There is usually one guard on duty at the pool and he is either texting or not paying attention. People who are swimming at a beginner level are in the medium lane, people who are swimming at a medium level are in the fast lane, etc. You get the picture and it gets very frustrating. The most frustrating thing though is when people do breaststroke in the fast lane and it specifically says on the sign right by the lane: NO BREASTSTROKE. However, I don't blame the swimmers for that, I blame the guards for not enforcing the rules, but that's kind of how this place is run... with a Lord of the Flies mentality. The pool is big enough to divide the three existing lanes into six, but they don't want to do that for some reason. Also want to mention that the staff is EXTREMELY UNFRIENDLY and NOT HELPFUL. You can only renew your membership on completely random days and they don't accept credit cards... it's 2011 and you don't accept credit cards? The lifeguard (of which there is only one on duty) does not sit by the pool, he's usually out socializing by the front desk -- there might as well be no lifeguard on duty. Bandaids in the swimming pool, dead roaches in the showers. NO SOAP OR SOAP DISPENSERS IN THE SHOWERS. How do you expect people to wash themselves completely before entering the pool? I know for a fact most people that come here do not bring their own soap. Recommend the board of health shut this place down and fire the management as they clearly do not give a shit and are only doing it for a mediocre paycheck.

first off, I've never even SEEN the cardio/workout room, as I only use this facility to swim. That said, I go swimming 3-4 times a week and it's great. Super cheap; $37.50 for 6 months, $75 for a year locker room and pool area always well heated/ventilated for the season the water in the pool is maintained at 78-82 degrees and cleaned weekly lots of open lap swim hours slow, medium, and fast lanes for lap swimming I recommend flip flops for walking around in the locker room, but if I forget mine, I don't assume I'll immediately catch some dread disease. the womens locker room is kept fastidiously clean by sass-machine attendants. essentially, this facility is about as glamorous as a well-kept high school. and for the price, I'm not complaining.

This is a pretty decent pool (and great for the price) but the patrons here seem like serious swimmers, and I just came here for a little workout. They were kind of intimidating, and after a while I felt self-conscious under everyone's judgmental eyes. I think I'll find another spot that's more my speed.

+ CHEAP. you can afford this. you can even just pay half-year if you're really tight on funds or if you're not sure you want to commit, or if you only want to work out inside for half the year and then spend the rest of the year outside. + POOL. rare in area gyms! + membership applies at all nyc parks & rec facilities! options where you work and where you live! and where your friends live! + easy to get to-- close to L, JZ, various buses, and there are plenty of bike racks and bike-lockable options outside on bedford & metropolitan + reasonable hours. comparable to most gyms in the area. /n/ very basic weight & cardio equipment. nothing fancy, but if you just have a freeweight plan and miles to run or pedal, you'll be fine. /n/ locker room & shower facilities very basic. you are not going to have sauna access (go upstairs to the weight room for a sauna-like experience, ha), and you will not find towel service here. byot. - pool is often very crowded, especially on weekends and weeknights after work. your laps will be interrupted. if you're okay with that, it's fine. if you're not okay with that, you'll be annoyed. - a little slow at the desk most of the time. but they're friendly! so there's that! pluses outweigh the neutral and negatives. do it.

Pros: ITS $75/ YEAR!!!! Pool is beautiful Locker room is clean It only costs $6/month!!!! Cons: Pool is often crowded (but you can usually get a decent workout) The 'gym' rooms were too uninviting for me to even try You have to bring your own lock I've only used the pool, which is beautiful, clean, and a bit crowded. The ceiling is soaring and has skylights, beautiful architecture! If you're an good swimmer it can be frustrating as the medium lane I find often too slow and the fast one too fast. I do wish they were more strict on what people wear while swimming as I've seen men wear pretty much boxers that are way too translucent in the water when you're swimming behind them, yuck. The locker room is clean and not crowded. The weight room and machines looks kinds gross, the room was 100 degrees, low ceilings with bad light, and didn't look inviting. Granted, I'm intimidated when it comes to those things anyway. Really, you can't beat this price! I looked into the greenpoint Y which was $52/month plus an $80 sign up fee, and their pool is awful! It's in the basement with low ceilings and it reeks of chlorine, which is actually a sign that the pool isn't clean (you only smell chlorine when the chemicals are eating up a lot of grossness). The Metro pool is so much nicer if you're looking to swim and it's SOOO cheep!

The facilities are decent. Honestly, I like the people more than the facilities. The life guards & front desk staff have all been very friendly. I got a spot in their adult swimming class through a lottery system and I am love the classes. The teachers are very patient and a great bunch. During the week I try to make time to go practice and the lifeguards always feel sorry for me and help me out (it's great but not great that I can't swim). The lifeguards are always encouraging telling me, 'don't worry, you'll learn and helping out). So far I've had great experiences here. Yes the facilities could be better but it's not too bad

I joined this place only because it's so damn cheap. 37.50 for 6 months? I mean, it's practically free compared to any other gym around. I would love to have a steam room and sauna, and dozens of elliptical machines, and all those other things... But I also don't want to shell out $100 dollars a month only to feel guilty about not using my gym membership enough. When I lived in Manhattan, the cheapest gym I could find was this basement dungeon with an overly flirtatious front desk staff that cost more for a month than this place does for a year. Anyhow, my needs from a gym are pretty simple, so this suits them fine. I have a flexible enough schedule that I am able to go here outside the peak after-work hours, and I can usually get one of the machines I want with no wait. Also, they just installed air conditioning in the cardio room, which resolves one of my bigger complaints about the temperature up there. I'm sure I will outgrow (or out-earn...) this place eventually, but til then, I am happy to get in a work out without feeling guilty about the price tag!

I'm giving it 4 stars because it has great value. It's tough to find a pool in NYC and this one is affordable, decent size (25 yards), and reasonably clean (not spotless but not gross). Reasonably helpful and very friendly staff. Adequate locker rooms - FYI showers are not private for those who care. Bring your own towel. If this place charged anything like a private gym it would get few stars (or maybe the minimum of one). But you get what you pay for -- and here they've done a solid job considering it's a city facility and just $15/month. As long as you don't expect anything remotely sparkly or fancy for that price, you'll be quite happy with what the city provides. This review is based only on pool and locker facilities and front desk service. Haven't used other facilities.

The price is totally amazing, but the facility is a bit grim, (picture it: Werkmeister Harmonies hospital ransacking scene). There are some rather unabashed naked people in the locker room, it's difficult to see the ends of the lanes due to lack of contrast, and the fast lane can be a total sausagefest... but otherwise a decent way to keep up your pace during the off season. The lanes are unusually wide, which is nice. But the pool is tiled, so be careful on those flipturns, or you can slice your foot open. I love the cap rule, it keeps the hairballs in check. I'm even ok with the fact that it's a bit on the warm side for my liking, though based on the earlier reviews, it looks like winter will be kickass. I just love to swim, and this is where it's at until McCarren opens again.

Cheap. Small. Not too dirty. The pool gives me sinus problems though. And that was that.

Ok- its a gross locker room! It's yukky!! It's NYC! But...the pool is really awesome and clean! The swimmers are courteous and fast! It's a challenging place to get in shape! But the hours suck..

Last night was the first time I'd ever attempted swimming laps for exercise. That being said, I obviously don't have much experience with any public or private pools. STAFF: The lady at the counter, while slightly distracted by conversation with her co-worker, was very pleasant and helpful. The lifeguards didn't seem capable of guarding a life. Thankfully there were about 10 former swim team type "bros" in the fast lane who I'd trust to save anyone seriously in peril. FACILITY: The locker room was slightly crowded, and not "nice" by any standards, but I was perfectly fine with modestly changing under my towel. The showers were actually warm and there was soap in the dispensers. Plenty of hooks for towels in the pool and plenty of kick-boards and tow buoys, although I'll bring my own kick-board next time. I obviously started in the slow lane. A good friend of mine who used to swim competitively joined me and was able to offer some coaching which really helped. The slow lane wasn't too crowded and I could practice as much as I liked without having to wait for more than a 30 seconds. The water was a little chilly on first entry but once you got moving it was perfect. EXPERIENCE: All in all it was a good one. I'm looking forward to getting in shape and I'll be trying a few morning swims as well to see when the pool is the least crowded.

Place is decent, you get what you pay for. Staff arent helpful, but dont impede on anything either. The gym equipment is old, outdated, and dirty, but you can get a decent work out in just fine. Havent used much else in the facility, but its nice to have options like swimming pool, etc. Remind yourself that it costs $80 a YEAR, and you can access a number of facilities around the city with that membership. Given the price, the place is great. Dont expect it to be as good as a gym you pay $80 a month for!

Is anyone going to complain about the Metropolitan Pool being closed until further notice? Prices just went up to $150 a year but we can't even use the pool! Why is that? How long will it take?