David D. Hunting Branch YMCA

The Y has brand new equipment I love that it's ever evolving. I've been going to this Y for 12 years.

Make sure you cancel 15 days in advance before your last month. If you do not, they make you pay a full month and do not prorate you any days. However, they have no problem charging & prorating when you sign up for a membership, which tells me they have the ability to do so just not to be fair to their loyal guests.

pros: everyone i've met here has been nice and friendly and the staff/other members genuinely want to help you, it's pretty clean you regularly see people cleaning equipment, vacuuming, plus other members are pretty good about wiping stuff down after using it

cons: if you go anytime in the evening good luck. parking will be a nightmare and you won't be able to get a full workout in. no towels but that's not a big deal, just bring your own imo. but mostly the whole place is kinda... outdated for the price they charge

overall would recommend unless you workout in the evening

I've been a Y member for many years, first in the Lansing area and then here in greater GR for the last five years or so. This is my favorite branch by far. The view from upstairs of the city is nice if you're running the track or lifting. The class schedule is great with amazing instructors, I do occasional yoga and lots of BodyCombat and BodyPump but there are tons of other classes. The pool area is nice and there is a hot tub by the family pool and also one in the locker room which I think is really convenient. The platform for deadlifting is tucked away from the rest of the weightlifting equipment which I like because I hate drawing attention if I'm noisy. The fees are so reasonable considering all you get, classes and childcare are included. Literally my only complaint I have is that they got rid of towel service. (Please bring that back if you are reading this!!) Overall I am extremely happy and would recommend to anyone.

I was with my senior night at the Y we were there until 4 AM we went to go into the pool and I asked the guy can we use the other side or do we have to stay here he goes do you see a lifeguard on the other side? I said no he goes hahaha I guess you can't then which is rude especially from an employee who was asked a simple yes or no question. then the guy told me it was 10 push-ups Or I had to pay him 20 bucks to go on the slide. He only said this to me. no one else and I went down feet first I came out and I folded coming out and he said I told you feet first and I said I did an he called me a lier and that next time it's 30 push ups to go down the slide and if I do it again I'm done with the pool overall everyone else was nice and I dont understand why a lifeguard would talk to someone like that very unprofessional and ruined my last night with my senior class

The gym reduced hours because of covid ? That doesn't make any sense, that'll just make it more congested now because the limited hours. They also implemented a $30 late fee now if they automated system gets a rejected payment, no matter if you pay that day still, you know because during hard times increasing a late fee is the best thing to do. The gym itself is great and the employees are nice, the management is making the wrong moves though.

My true rating is a 3.5.

I have worked out at everything from a dilapidated warehouse bodybuilding gym with a closet for a bathroom to a fancy schmancy rec center with all of the frills. I don't need a lot to be happy with a gym, but I do expect it to be clean when I'm paying $82/month.

My biggest gripe with the Y is the cleanliness. The locker room is pretty disgusting - hair everywhere, gunk on the walls - I get so grossed out seeing people walk barefoot in there because the floors are not clean. I see cleaning staff walk through to empty the trash, but I've never seen them actually wipe anything down. I would like to workout here in the morning before work, but I can't bring myself to shower here.

With the 1.5 star knockdown explained, I'll move forward with the rest of my review.

I moved to Grand Rapids in October, and decided to get a membership at the Y because it is just a couple of blocks from my house, which makes it easy to get a workout in. For those not within walking distance, they give you a card that gives you access to their parking lot when you're working out there. It is often packed, though.

I use the weight room almost daily, and it has a lot of nice equipment! It is always packed when I go, which is frustrating, but it is what it is. I love that it has multiple squat racks and barbell cages, two leg presses (one better than the other IMO), a range of dumbbells, an Olympic weightlifting area, benches (although we could use more), several cable stations, and every machine one could need. I don't use them, but it's cool that they also have machines to fit those under 5'4". There is also a nice stretching area, and plenty of cardio equipment.

Aside from the gym, the Y offers a plethora of group classes, which I am NOT usually a fan of. However, I've found myself becoming a regular at the Body Combat class, as well as Pilates. They've helped spice up my cardio routine, which has been fun! I think any of the classes would be great for someone just getting into fitness!

Overall, it's not a bad facility, but I sure wish they'd clean up the locker rooms, and update the lockers.

Although I will probably still become a member I can't help but wonder why the Grand Rapids YMCA charges nearly double what Omaha charges, and at least $20/month more than Los Angeles, CA.

Grand Rapids $70/mo
Omaha $42/mo
Los Angeles $47/mo

It is not due to having access to more than one facility, because they all work the same way. It is not because the facility is nicer because I've been a Y Member even in North Carolina. They are all nice facilities. Why overcharge the single, older adult? They do not even use the kids facilities (family membership).

In a region that is considered conservative and good you would think that the YMCA would be first in line to have equal opportunity. No, I do not need financial assistance. The Y is over charging.

Were it not for the close proximity to where I live and work, I would have canceled my membership years ago. The price for a single individual is too high, especially given the consistent waiting for equipment and difficulty finding parking. If you are unable to go when they first open or during off hours, it's overwhelmingly crowded. I do appreciate the quality of equipment, natural light and steam room.

A group of guys seek to play basketball every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at 5:30am.

There is a cross fit class that ends up taking an entire set of basketball courts, when we can only play basketball on the basketball court.

When we have sought help, the leadership has been slow to respond, has not followed through when they said they would, and overall have not sought a solution.

Then this morning we were told that a volleyball net had to stay up, preventing us from running full court. They didn't seek to take it down and help us out.

Very frustrating.