Merriam Community Center — Attraction in Merriam

Our family loves it here and we go several times per week, including for group swim lessons.

1-The swim instructors are professional and friendly, and give the children important feedback (especially top instructors like Cole and two young women whose names I have not caught). We did see an incredible progress in our kids’ swimming abilities after just a few classes.

2-I have also used the track but not the equipment, though it looks very clean and well-kept. Same for the courts and all bathrooms.

3-The front desk staff is always courteous and always greet us with smiles, and when we leave they do the same. (Yay for professional staff!) Occasionally they have free books for families to take (one per child) so more points for them.

4-Additionally, I’ve used child watch one time so far. I was nervous to leave my two-year-old (with an older sibling) because she’s never been left in any care away from me. When I returned she did not want to leave because she was having too much fun with the he toys there. More points there.

5-Outside they have a beautiful lounging areas with lots of seating and tables, and bean bag games such as corn-hole. I have seen Pilates classes taking classes here early mornings.

All in all I find everyone very friendly, the place clean (except for lots of water in lockers during busy hours, which is to be expected).

If we were to add anything it would be to add more snack options to the concession stands by the pool, though my kids are happy with the ice cream, pretzels, and hot dogs (Among other things) they offer.

We pay $60 a month for a family of six and are happy to say it is money well-spent. I can’t wait to try some of the adult fitness classes they offer. It is small but meets all of our basic needs. As a plus, it looks like they’ll be moving the library there and we can’t wait to...

I wanted to share both my experience of this facility and the employees; they are both spectacular. The facility is clean, family friendly, large and spacious. The gym could have more machines, but it definitely is large and spacious and always clean, which is very appreciated. I also like the track to be able to walk in space, I hate treadmills and cardio indoors. One of the main reasons I joined here was the pool which is great for the range of areas they have. I have a preschooler and he enjoys the therapy pool, the lazy River, and the slide and shallow area. They also have laps and a basketball hoop. It’s so great during the winter to have this resource, and we use the pool 1-2 times a week. They also have a great outdoor pool during summer. I would say I come here 3-5 times a week for the gym. Main downside is I wish they were 24 hours, but I understand them not doing this. I think the family membership is a great value and I am not a merriam resident.

Secondly, I want to compliment the employees. They are all very pleasant and kind in my experience. The Child Watch employees are great with my son and he calls childwatch “playing with the kids!” In addition, I have seen an employee interacting with a parent who did not pick up her child by the closing time of childwatch. She was so kind about it and really encouraged the mom to take time for self care, which was super heart warming as a fellow mom.

Lastly, this place serves as a warming center for many homeless individuals during the winter. They go above and beyond being a community center and really set...

From the time my family got to the indoor pool we kept getting glares but we ignored it. After a few minutes we started seeing a pattern of our kids getting whistles some warranted some didn’t make any sense so we started watching the guards and realized what our kids would do and get whistles the other (caucasian) kids were allowed to do with no problem. Now I didn’t want to bring race into anything until after a hour and a half later my nephew swallowed water (he’s 2) and threw up a quarter amount on the concrete. Once the life guards realized he threw up they made a big scene flapping hands and going back and forth talking to each other then glaring back at us shaking their heads. They must’ve been real annoyed because I kept getting pointed at until a guard came over asking if my leggings were compression leggings to which I said no they’re swim leggings and asked him why he didn’t say anything over an hour ago and he kept saying “we don’t allow compression leggings” finally my white partner said “she bought them offline and they ARE swim leggings” he said “oh really?” At that point I was so upset a so I walked away. My partner kept talking to him and ask why he didn’t approach my sister (also white) when she had the same pair of leggings on and only approached the ONLY black women in the pool and he said he was specifically sent to question me. The lady teaching the infants swim class refused to answer our questions about swim class but had no problem talking with the other customers. We’re all human and no one should be singled out and...