The Hill Y in Westminster

1719 Sykesville Rd, Westminster, MD 21157, USA

Address:	1719 Sykesville Rd, Westminster, MD 21157, USA
Phone:	+1 410-848-3660
Site:	ymaryland.org
Rating:	3.5
Working:	5:30AM–10PM 5:30AM–10PM 5:30AM–10PM 5:30AM–10PM 5:30AM–10PM 7AM–7PM 9AM–7PM

Location

Photos 41

Reviews 3

snowymountainlove

My family and I have been attending this facility for more than 15 years, paying every $90 monthly bill (perfectly on time) and occasionally volunteering in various capacities. What was once a welcoming, relaxing atmosphere with spartan facilities has become a place that arbitrarily enforces subjective (and unwritten) "rules" that seem to grow in number with every visit, albeit now in a slightly updated and modestly better equipped facility. An example would be the fact that the showers now have hot water. That is not an exaggeration or sarcasm, just the truth. Lifeguards, day to day, are in no way on the same page, so to speak. What was permissible yesterday is forbidden today, and vice versa. Whoever is on guard duty at any given moment brings their own interpretations of what constitutes "safe" and is in keeping with Y policy. Members are left to guess how to navigate the whims of the (mostly) teenage children and very young adults who are hired to guard the pool. Items such as kick boards or aquatic bar floats that management leaves all around the deck in plain view and appear to be inviting only draw scolding reprimands if one attempts to use them in any setting other than an aquatics class that is on a schedule. For the entirety of my membership, I have incorporated laps (25 yards) into my routine which are entirely underwater, surfacing only at the ends of the pool. I am fit and this is in no way stressful or particularly taxing. Quite to the contrary, I find it very relaxing. For me, this has always been an invaluable part of my regimen and it has even helped me recover from sever trauma suffered 18 months ago when I broke 5 ribs and punctured a lung. I have been told that it now violates vague and subjective rules regarding "long breath holding" and that it is forbidden. THEY NOW PRESUME TO TELL ME HOW TO SWIM !! It is oppressive. **never mind that competitive swimmers now regularly swim the 50m with their face entirely in the water, never breathing even once. that is a distance more than twice that of a single lap in the pool at this Y facility** I retrieved a medicine ball (also another valuable part of my routine) from a room that is both an office and a storage room. I have also done this for the past 15+ years. Recently, I was admonished for that to such an extent that the lifeguard ceased to pay any attention at all to the swimmers in the pool - precisely the reason that Ive always retrieved the ball myself, so as not to distract the guard away from their primary duties. Make no mistake, there are plenty of wonderful people at this facility and I have been grateful for many years, however, I will not pretend that there has not been a serious erosion in the enjoyment of my experience of late. Its my experience and everything that Ive stated here is factual. It really saddens me and I wish that I were writing an entirely different review.

Tony Vetri

Excellent place for working out and swimming. They also have outstanding staff thatll help you out with workouts and for any questions about fitness. Membership price is nice and worth it. Highly recommend this place if youre looking for a gym to workout, swim, or take any fitness classes, including self - defense training.

Dondre Monk

I love this place they offer a lot of activities for kids and adults my daughter loves the swimming pool in her ballet lessons all of the staff are so helpful and friendly