Park Fitness — Local services in Highland Park

If you’re a serious weightlifter, I’d recommend another gym. If you’re just looking to get a basic workout in, it gets the job done.

Pros: Clean Nice front desk staff & trainers Nice view of nature when working out Has all staple equipment Lots of cardio equipment Efficiently handled a situation where another member harassed me. Took it seriously $51/month for standard membership

Cons: Lacking variety of weight machines. Doesn’t have: Hack squat, RDL machine, Chest supported T-bar row, lateral raise machine, belt squat, standing rotary hip, weighted reverse hyper extension Inconvenient hours - often closed. Closed or closes at noon for holidays and shuts down completely for a week over the summer Can get crowded Lots of rules, feel like you’re being policed on the floor Temperature in gym is very hot No sauna or hot tub

I’ve been coming here consistently for 3.5 years. While I used to have an overall positive experience here, things have taken a disappointing turn recently.

I was unfairly singled out and accused (with no evidence) of damaging equipment simply because I lift heavy and appear to be the “most likely culprit.” I was blamed for ripping a balance pad and bending/breaking machine pins, including on a machine I’ve never used. The balance pad accusation happened a while ago, I thought it was odd but bought my own to bring in to avoid conflict and dropped it. However when I was wrongly accused again it didn’t sit right with me and felt discriminatory.

I use a GymPin (gym-pin.com), a tool designed to safely add weight to machines. I spent $64 on this device specifically to AVOID misusing the equipment or overloading it improperly, and bought the specific model for Life Fitness (Insignia range), which is what this gym uses. Because of this, they conclude that I’m likely the one who broke the machines and ban me from using it.

What bothered me most was how quickly false accusations were made (thereby prohibiting me from using the GymPin) without being given a fair chance to even be heard. Being accused of something you didn’t do, especially when you go out of your way to train responsibly, is disheartening. They wouldn’t even listen to what I had to say or show it to them. I am now left unable to complete my workouts effectively because the machines are too light, and feel bummed about training at a place I once...

We use this place for swimming for all 3 of our kids. The teachers are amazing and kind, but the changing room is a different story. There are mothers bringing their boys 5 and up into the woman changing room. My oldest daughter is 9, and I think this is unacceptable!!! There are only 2 changing rooms there. Everyone else has to change in a common area. A boy coming in 5+ is not ok, period. Imagine your daughter is there, and a 5 year old sees her naked goes to the school and tells everyone. Who is actually gonna be bullied? Not the boy for sure!! Now I have to choose between my son and my older daughter. Who should I keep safe while my husband is with the younger one...

I've been an occasional-to-regular patron of their walking track for the past two years, and until this month, I had no complaints — it’s a nicely maintained indoor walking track. This month, however they canceled my walking track membership with over a year remaining, along with every other non-resident walking track membership. Then they asked us to "sign up for a new annual [walking track] pass" at, no joke, ten times the price. Look, if you want to change the price when our memberships expire, I may not like it, but fine, that's your prerogative. But canceling an active membership solely to charge the same people ten times more for the same service? Frankly, it strikes me as unethical, if...