Mission Valley YMCA — Attraction in San Diego

The YMCA has long been a bastion for community sports, notably basketball, which was invented at a YMCA in 1891. This rich history makes the recent decision to curtail basketball court availability in favor of pickleball during peak early morning hours somewhat perplexing and disheartening.

The decision has stirred considerable debate among the YMCA members. On one hand, it's understandable that the facility wants to accommodate the growing popularity of pickleball, especially among retirees who are a large and active part of the YMCA community. On the other hand, this shift seems to disproportionately affect the younger, working demographic that values early morning basketball sessions as a vital part of their fitness routine and work-life balance.

While the sentiment of inclusivity for pickleball players is appreciated, the implementation feels somewhat skewed. Many working members feel that their needs have been overlooked, and the essence of what the YMCA stood for in the context of basketball is being eroded. The YMCA might have sought a more balanced approach, possibly by allocating different times or additional resources to accommodate all interests.

Furthermore, communication about these changes appears to have been minimal, leaving some members feeling blindsided. A more transparent approach, involving community feedback before implementing such changes, could have mitigated the dissatisfaction.

Overall, this decision by the YMCA reflects a challenging balancing act between tradition and evolving community needs. However, the execution and communication of the change could have been handled better to uphold the YMCA's commitment to serving all segments of its...

I left a 5-star review about a year ago but recently some things have changed so I'm updating my review.

The gym has become too crowded. Sometimes you can't find any available cardio machines or even a little space to stretch. Coming between 4:00pm and 7:00pm is no longer a pleasant experience. Minus one star.

If you'd like to use a jumping rope, you have to look for a staff member and ask them to unlock the room where they keep jumping ropes. They give it to you in exchange for your ID. When you're done using it, you have to look for a staff member again to give it back to them and get your ID back. They used to keep jumping ropes next to the dumbbells available to everyone at any time. All other gyms still do. This new policy is ridiculous. Minus one star.

They used to have a digital scale in the men's locker room but it's been gone for over a month now. I asked several different staff members what happened and they all told me "It broke so we ordered a new part for it and it is on its way". Well, it's been about 6 weeks and there is still no scale in the men's bathroom. Just buy a new scale $15. WTF. Minus one star.

The only reason I'm still a member here is because I live very close to it - 5 minutes by walking. Very...

I believe there is a huge issue with racism here from staff and other members. Some deeply unpleasant people and widespread petty/low class behavior imo. I believe this is a much wider issue with the Y writ large, sometimes subtle and sometimes MUCH less subtle. Y head office leadership and CEO bury your head in the sand at your own peril as a viable organization imo. The diversity of residents including powerful investors and their families is increasing fast in San Diego :)

It appears to me that black, brown, Asian etc. people are treated like second class citizens, only tolerated if they do not speak up or do not outperform white peers in activities.

I think retaliation, closed ranks and marginalization are the toxic tactics used against you if you speak up. I was so relieved when I canceled my membership. I felt relieved also as I now have confidence that my children will not be exposed to this too. Best thing I thought was to join a place where these kind of people are hard priced out. My family and I feel safe, free...