Fountain View Recreation Center — Local services in Carol Stream

Your hall might be beautiful but your staff is rude and unprofessional.

1. I had an event at your facility on 6/17/23 and my booking started at 1PM in Room 122. My actual event started at 1:30PM and I allowed enough time (30 mins) for decoration of the room.

2. I arrived at your facility around 12:35ish or 12:40ish and only thing I requested was give me cart and open the dock area so we could at least unload our cars and start decorating as soon as 1:05PM.

3. They said the cart cannot be given till 1PM because its "too early". I find this comment extremely untrue because I know people that have rented this facility before and they were given the cart and docking area 30 mins prior to the events. In some cases, they even opened they have opened the rooms before 30 mins, which I never asked. I did not want the key at 12:40PM, I just wanted cart and access to the docking area.

4. When I was told they cannot give us the cart, I told them we will bring in items without cart and wait by the door till 1PM. And they said we are not allowed to do it because of the safety issue! Sorry?! What safety issue. We cannot place our bags outside by the door? We were not going to leave them unattended either.

5. I was at your facility on 6/3/23 to discuss designs with your designer (Patrick) regarding the table and chair layouts. I mentioned ahead of time (over the phone) that I ALREADY have my event planned on 6/17/23 and I need to stop by to discuss designs. I was also told you guys would give me a call to discuss designs 2 weeks prior the event, which I ever received. You need to change this to 1 month in advance because you need to understand people travel. This was the case with me. I was out of town between 6/6 and 6/12.

6. Your designer Patrick took me to the wrong room on 6/3/23 and had NO idea I already booked my room and was scrambling through the paperwork. I told him I want white linens and he asked me if I have already paid for the linens. I find this extremely funny and yet unorganized. He should have looked at my paperwork before I got there! Additionally, I mentioned on 6/3/23 that I also was willing to pay extra to get the room sooner (12:30PM) but they said the room will not be not vacant. However, the room was vacant at 12:30PM when we got there on 6/17/23. I frankly feel the guy was too lazy to change my reservation.

7. One of the lady from the front desk told us to not take pictures in the hallway on the day of the event. There were not even many people there, it was just me and my photographer who took 5-6 pics there. Again there isn't any sign on the hallway that pics cannot be taken there. PUT a sign in the hallway if pictures cannot be taken in the hallway! This is where I started to feel your staff is racist! Again, I know people that take pictures in the hallway where you have chairs outside of room 122. So why she came to us and advised us to not take the pictures. Was she racist or simply jealous we were trying to have a good time?!

8. Last but not least, our cake for the event was sent back. I can understand my friend booked it for my bridal shower as a gift for me, but at least they should have stopped by our room to ask if it was our cake before sending the cake guy back. They had already stopped by 4 times in our room so why not 5th time?

9. They did not give us any privacy when our event was going on. One of the ladies kept on looking at us from the window. I find this very creepy and unprofessional.

10. Me and my bridesmaids were supposed to feel relaxed for my bridal shower since we wanted to avoid the hassle of doing it at one of our homes but we regret booking your facility. I feel like I threw away $350 down the drain by coming over at your facility. You guys made it VERY stressful for us to have a very important event of my life there! I will not recommend it to anyone.

I do not recommend this hall to anyone for rental purposes because they will stress you out and not feel relaxes when your events...

Fitness area and walking track are just ok nothing special but maybe a click above your normal local park district workout place. However I have a major issue with the pool, mainly the lap pool. You pay a decent amount for this place, especially if you are not a resident of Carol Stream (Hanover Park does not have a pool). They advertise the lap swim hours are open all the time except for cleaning daily 1:00-4:00pm, and OCCASIONALLY when they have home swim meets. Which apparently is quite often. Since Jan 5th I have been turned away 3 times after I arrived to lap swim. As most of you know getting to the gym is half the battle of working out, imagine having the will to get yourself there, only to be told the pool is closed. Yesterday was the 3rd time, and after I left I went to Lifetime to look at their place, and while yes it's more expensive, their pool is actually open when they say it is. Another thing it made me realize is that the pool at fountain view is really not that clean. The water at Lifetime was absolutely crystal clear, I did not realize how cloudy this place was until I saw what it's supposed to look like. Also since I have been coming there has been some blue plastic bits in the deep end of lane 2. Never really thought much about it, but it makes you wonder what they do with the 3 hours they are closed for cleaning each day. If you are looking to swim daily like I was, I would say BUYER BEWARE before you drop your hard earned cash for a membership to this place. As far as I am concerned what they claim is completely false advertisement for the amount of time the pool is open for...

Facility is good, been using the gym since a couple years but there are a couple of drawbacks. The fitness rooms can't be rented or used privately. I know of many facilities where people use the fitness rooms after the group classes are over to do their dance rehearsals. I asked to rent or use one but was told to rent a place at some other location. I usually visit the gym after 8pm and sometimes would like to use one (assuming it's available and empty) to do dance practice (not many people, just one or two). The staff is usually friendly but have gotten a bit of passive attitude sometimes. Just recently visited and since I didn't have my ID card, I showed my ID picture on phone (scanner wasn't scanning it). I just asked the staff if it's ok to show ID picture since I didn't have the card. The staff said try scanning but it might not work, so I said yeah it doesn't. I asked if I need to sign in (was looking at the sign in sheet) and she rudely said you should wait I just opened up the system it takes time. I didn't even know she was trying to sign me in.

Update: To clarify, I do not intend to teach dance or anything. I just mean to use the space for myself. As a full member of the gym, just how I can use other spaces, it would be nice if I can use a room for myself when it's empty (no associated dance...