City of Anderson Parks and Recreation Department — Attraction in Anderson

DO NOT GO HERE. I have never been more infuriated about the way a gym runs than this institution. I’m ashamed to pay city taxes to keep this facility open.

It seems the outdoors are for the children in different smaller sport leagues, but there is absolutely no place for children (or people who have kids) indoors. We called four times and visited twice. The staff seems to make up rules and tell us things to discourage us from coming. A lady named Betty seemed to actively ignore us while we were inches from her at the counter. She seems to scan us for reasons to say “no” to the point where I felt like I was being discriminated because I am Asian and/or because I have a small child with me. She spoke in circles and never once said a friendly, welcoming word. It was like she didn’t want us to be there, but couldn’t tell us exactly why and so she made up things. For example, I brought my toddler to tour the facility. I didn’t ask for anything related to my toddler and Betty started to tell me 10 reasons why this gym is not for toddlers (no daycare, no activities, etc.). I just want a safe and clean facility to get my child into indoor sports or keep her active when it’s raining or too hot outside. It’s in the pursuit of physical health and my daughter would be with me the entire time. I am not looking for childcare or programs for my toddler. All Betty could say was that kids are not allowed.

Also, this is the only gym I have encountered in 30 years that do not let you bring your own balls onto the court. There’s no written policy. Betty said balls would track gravel and damage the gym floor. I guess they check everyone’s shoes too (there is a shoe shiner at the front entrance - no kidding).

If you like pickle ball, this is the place for you because they have FOUR courts for pickle ball for 6-8 hours each day. And that’s the ONLY thing you can play during those times. Even if the court is empty, you cannot shoot basketball or bounce a volleyball. You MUST play pickle ball.

And between 5-8pm, although it’s an “open gym”, you can ONLY play basketball. You can’t pepper a volleyball in the corner (by yourself or with a partner) in an empty court because “1) it’s not basketball 2) they don’t let you bring your own volleyball 3) THEY DON’T LET YOU USE THEIR VOLLEYBALLS because it’s not volleyball season”.

My husband and I tried to give this gym a try a few times and we quit. It’s a place that is unfriendly, unhelpful, and seems to guard the faculty like a fragile museum more than a place for physical health. It does not want...

NOT family friendly. Pros: Excellent value for clean, new facility with nice equipment. There is not a wait except for particular times (9am) on specific machines (elliptical). The equipment is separated into different groups of machines in different areas, so I don’t feel self conscious once I know what I’m doing. Good classes with nice instructors. I went to a general fitness class that was perfectly challenging enough with aerobic and weights, but there were both easier and harder classes available. I also enjoyed the yoga. Cons: Caters to an older age bracket, so that means: Children basically aren’t allowed ANYwhere. They say they are family friendly, but kids are only allowed within hand holding distance on the track. They are not permitted to be in the workout rooms, courts or classrooms. They have a playground out back, but there are no activities to do nearby for adults, so it’s kind of either/or. So I’m confused why children as young as 4 need a $19/year membership to hold my hand and walk in a circle or play on the playground while I just sit and watch. Hours kind of suck. Check out the class times before you enroll because they are super early (5:45) or a little late (8:30-9:30), with many being in the middle of the afternoon. A couple at night. Even with trying the morning classes, you wouldn’t go every day, like there aren’t currently morning classes on Tuesday and Thursday. So it makes for an inconvenient schedule if you work. Not open until 2 on Sunday, and not open very late even on weekdays. Courts - If you’re planning on coming to play basketball or pickle ball, know that one court (the basketball one) is regularly reserved for the fire department in the mornings. Pickle ball is not available until 9am, and since there are only two, they fill up quickly (depending on the time). No pool. The first pic is incorrect, the others are true. I think kids can sign up for swim lessons through the rec though and use the Y pool, but I’m not sure. But only for classes, if so.

In general, I loved finding classes that worked, though we had difficulty scheduling. IF you can make it work with a job and kids, it IS the best deal in town, but just for you,...

Do NOT join the basketball league, they place the kids based on "skill" they say but then the games end up being 25 pts to 1 or 2 on the opposing side time and time again. I've got 2 kids in different age range teams and they're both the same. It's sad to see their entire team depressed to the point they are crying during the game because the league allows such unbalanced teams. I've been a part of several leagues in easley, greenville, pickens, liberty, in south carolina alone and have never seen such poor professionalism. So sad they allow this to continue through the entire season. The last straw was the score keeper didn't even add the final point to the losing side, they literally didn't care because they were busy on their phones. At least the referee's have been good doing their part. The league...