Golden Community Center — Local services in Golden

We won't be coming back. The lifeguards were ridiculous! Trying to enforce things that weren't even listed as rules. My 5 year old daughter was doing the slide. She is about 3' 10" tall, and the pool was labeled 3' 6", so I was in the pool to help her to the edge when she came out.

First one guy came over and said I can't catch her, and I had to go down with her. I tried, and that was much more dangerous for her. Shooting out of a slide, I have little control of myself, much less the ability to hold her up and keep my focus on her.

I went back to just being in the pool waiting for her to come down, this time not even having to help her, just being there in case. Now a girl comes over and says "you have to go with her, you can't catch her". I explained that I tried going with her, and that I'm not catching her, just being here in case she needs me. She then says my daughter has to be 48" tall. She pointed to a piece of red tape on the wall (very unofficial) nowhere near the slide that had a hand written "48 inches" label on it. On the official slide rules there was no mention of this, or that parents can't assist their children at the bottom of the slide. This rule was also not listed on the web site, as we were checking when deciding which rec center to go to.

As icing on the cake, even though the "lifeguards" were quick to pick on our every move as responsible parents actually watching their kids, another group of unsupervised kids were jumping all over the log course while our kids were following the rules, going one at a time. Much older kids were inside the ropes, not paying any attention to the line, then bouncing off of the platforms (sometimes knocking my kids off). I stared the lifeguard down, he made eye contact with me, then said and did nothing. It was like they had it out for us for some reason, which is strange since we were being very respectful. Our group consisted of a five year old girl, a seven year old boy, my wife, and myself. My wife and I were within 20 feet of our kids at all times, helping them and instructing them of the safe and proper way to play.

In case management happens to review these comments and holds their employees accountable, this took place on 12/31/2018, between 2 PM and 4 PM. Perhaps you can correct the issue for other future guests, though we will choose to spend our time and money...

While I have enjoyed the facility sporadically for over 10 years, our family has repeatedly been highly disappointed by the unfriendly nature of the community center. They are very, very unwelcoming towards children between the ages of 8 and 16. There is no childcare option for this age range, and almost no activities exist here that kids can participate in without constant adult supervision. Two 10 year old kids playing basketball with parents in the next room exercising? Nope. Swimming laps as a 13 year old while Dad works out? Nope. One disappointing example of many was when I was swimming with my 11-year-old (we were sharing a single lap lane with another adult), we were going back-and-forth appropriately, when we were asked by a lifeguard to leave the lap swimming area so that a swimmer without a child could use our lane (upon that swimmers request). There are signs everywhere stating that children must be supervised, however, when you are closely supervising your child while swimming, you are asked to leave. My child was not playing in the lane, but swimming laps. Are the lap lanes only open to swimmers who swim at a specific speed? How are kids and preteens to learn to swim laps if they are not allowed in the lap swimming area with a parent? Very disappointed in my taxpayer funded ‘family’...

I recently visited the Golden Community Center, or as I now like to call it, "The Golden Homeless Haven." Walking in, I was greeted by the distinct aroma of body odor mixed with eau de marijuana, a scent that I can only describe as "authentic urban experience."

The bathrooms are quite the adventure. Need a quick fix? I mean, FIXTURE. You'll find some colorful characters there who seem to have taken up permanent residence. I felt like I was interrupting a secret society meeting every time I just needed to use the facilities. And those facilities! If you enjoy the thrill of possibly contracting something by merely breathing the air, then you’re in for a treat.

Activities? Oh, they’ve got plenty! Watch the drama unfold as locals engage in heated debates over the last cigarette butt or marvel at the innovative ways they've discovered to occupy every bench.

So if you’re looking for a place that offers more than just your standard community center experience, where every visit is an unpredictable adventure, Golden Community Center is the place to be. Just don’t forget your hand sanitizer and a good...