Blue Ash Recreation Center — Local services in Blue Ash

💺 SERVICE 💺 ☐ Negligent ☐ Inadequate ☐ Acceptable ☐ Exceptional ☑ Excellent

🙋 CUSTOMER SERVICE 🙋 ☐ Rude ☐ Dismissive ☑ Indifferent ☐ Considerate ☐ Courteous

📅 ORGANIZATION 📅 ☐ Disorganized ☐ Inconsistent ☐ Standard ☐ Efficient ☑ Organized

🤲 HYGIENE 🤲 ☐ Filthy ☐ Dirty ☐ Clean ☑ Sanitary ☐ Immaculate

♿ ACCESSIBILITY ♿ ☐ Impossible ☐ Difficult ☐ Challenging ☐ Convenient ☑ Welcoming

💲 VALUE 💲 ☐ Money-milking ☐ Expensive ☐ Fair ☑ Economical ☐ Bargain

Date visited: 03/02/2024

Blue Ash Recreation Center has been on my to-go list for a while, but only members or guests can enter, and I am neither. However, fate intervenes in a strange way, as a friend and coworker of mine, KK, offers to sponsor my entry, and of course, I agree. We arrive in the morning on a busy Saturday. The parking lot is packed with visitors’ cars; some bear the emblems of luxury brands like Audi and Lexus. Unimpressed by the residents’ display of affluence, I made my way towards the entrance.

After a moment, KK shows up and we announce our arrival at the reception desk. We were greeted by two amiable staff members, a seasoned gentleman and a young girl, likely an apprentice. As KK's guest, I am allowed to use the facility as I please, provided I stay within the proximity of my host at all times. We make our way to the locker room to store our belongings. The room also housed shower facilities and saunas, all maintained and regularly cleaned.

Our next stop is the fitness center where muscles collide. This expansive two-story space was equipped with a wide range of workout gear: cable machines, free weights, barbells, and more; they probably have them all here. There is also a running track that loops around the second floor. It is crowded and noisy, but nobody has to wait in line. The strong smell of body odor in the air reminds me of bustling outdoor markets in a third-world country. I try to exercise but find it hard to concentrate due to the distractions from the crowd and KK’s incessant chatter about the presence of his "muscle waifu" in the room. Nevertheless, the fitness center was undeniably top-tier.

A unique feature of this center is the climbing course. As a fan of parkour, this is a must-try for me. After signing some paperwork concerning fees and safety, I enter the course with excitement. Since I don’t pay for a safety harness, I'm only permitted to do ‘bouldering’, a short climb. I feel like a kid again, climbing his favorite tree, a precious memory to me. A male staff member remains standby to ensure I don’t fall onto the cushioned floor. This is probably too much for me, so I take my leave early.

Before leaving, we try our hand at the basketball court, which is already occupied by a group of middle schoolers. The court is clean, especially the floor, which echoed the rhythmic squeak of rubber soles against polished wood. As more players arrived, we politely stepped aside.

Overall, this is a great place with lots of things to do. It is also very well-maintained. The only downside is that it’s limited to Blue Ash residents and taxpayers, a group that I do...

A lot of good things: Outdoor pool water slides are great Kids water play area Concessions and food area to eat while at the pools Indoor running track on 2nd floor Size of locker rooms Indoor batting cages in the basement for Sycamore teams Small game room with older air hockey, foosball, and ping pong table Multiple indoor basketball gyms Indoor racquetball courts (for additional fee) Indoor rock climbing wall (for additional fee)

I’m giving 3.75 stars due to the age of some of the facility. The weight room part of the exercise area doesn’t compare to standalone gyms like Crunch or Planet Fitness. Most of the equipment is older and just in fair shape. There is only one set of dumbbells for weights 45 lbs. and higher with just ~5 free weight benches. The facility opens at 6am which doesn’t allow for a workout before starting my family morning routine...

This is the place to be for all your Summer Aquatic activities. Blue Ash Rec allows rentals for Birthdays and more. They even offer pool side rentals. We love the new pool play area for the little ones. This pool is so relaxing.

The Rec also offers a hot tub, showers, lockers and a sauna. They even have a swim suit extractor. Which is a SUPER PLUS!

They also provude an indoor fitness center, gymnasium and a mini arcade area. They offer many activities and classes to sign up for, such as Zumba and Swim lessons.

Also, there's a playground on thr opposite side of the building which is also great and ideal.

The staff here is super friendly, most of which have worked...