St. John's Recreation Center — Attraction in New York

-staff: not friendly, sarcastic. I brought my daughter to the child swim on Saturday, and the receptionist just kept staring at her. She's like, "you're letting HER get into the pool by herself?" My daughter is 5, but she's a big 5. Number 1: what's it to you if I bring her into the pool or not? all she have to worry about it if her membership card is working or not. Number 2: staff were talking to each other while a line of people were waiting. They are so unprofessional, no work ethic at all.

Area: smelly, old equipment. Pool area needs renovation ASAP. Lockers are so old, some of them don't even close. Shower curtains are falling off, there's no soap by the sink, no toilet tissues, and when you inform the staff, they have an attitude.

This place needs new staff, new equipments, more programs for...

For anyone who is interested in the pool, I would recommend talking to the staff first and get a copy of the pool schedule from the security/front desk. One staff member told me that information on the NYC Park website is not managed by the recreation center which means information you found online may be incorrect. Furthermore, the rule (for the pool) is probably more complicated than what you would've thought. I just learnt that adult lap sessions have lanes for beginners as well and family swim is only for parents and kids (other pools I've gone to allow everyone to access the pool during family sessions). Unfortunately, these are not well explained on their webpage. So don't assume (like what I did). Go/call and ask for the schedule and for clarification so that you don't...

Staff is very rude. I won’t want to see any of them again. This incident happened in the morning of May 18th,2024. I was watch my phone on the swimming deck while waiting for my daughter. An African American male staff yelled at me and asked me out. He accused me taking photos or videos without evidence. I explained I was watching my phone. He said my phone camera was facing the swimming pool. He yelled at me in front of a group of people and loudly said he will ask me out next time he sees my phone. Even a criminal person needs evidence to be charged. Can you get evidence before disrespecting a parent? He was yelling at another mom before yelling at me. I wish he got fired for disrespecting people and leave a nontoxic environment for the kids...