Chehalem Aquatic and Fitness Center — Local services in Newberg

In short, we love the place. Want the details? Keep reading... I first started going here because I was taking my daughter to physical therapy in the pool. But I knew it would also be a gentler way for me to get some exercise, and make my Dr happy if I did it. This place is amazing! There are 2 wonderful ladies that work the front desk (we're there Tuesdays & some Thursdays around 10:30 - 11:00), the locker rooms are nice (bring your own lock!), and have a sauna and a swimsuit spinner, there are several curtained off showers if you aren't comfortable showering in the open shower area, as well as 4 family changing rooms in between the men's and women's locker rooms - and at least 1 of them is usually available. The main pool is separated into multiple areas, and you can move around between all but 3 of them without leaving the water. The first half has 2 of the separated areas, one of which is a children's play area with a truck to climb on and some buckets of water that pour into the pool area periodically as they fill from a stream above. There is a hot tub with enough room for about 10-12 people without being too squished. Then there is an approx. 3' wide, maybe 40 foot long, curving ramp you can walk down starting in a few inches of water till you reach the 3'6" main area. It goes to a point almost halfway down one side of the pool, as an alternative to using the stairs or ladders. It curves between those hot tub and toddler areas, part the whirlpool and into the rest of that half of the main pool. It's main purpose is likely for handicap access, and they also have a wheelchair that can be used in the pool. You can use the whirlpool to either help you move easier and faster through the water with the current, or you can go against it for more resistance and a harder workout. The remaining parts in that half of the pool are a smaller open swim area with a basketball hoop, and the remaining third of that end is a 3 lane, half length, small lap swim area. The other half has what they call the "lazy river", which is a figure eight shaped track in the water that also has current (like the whirlpool). You can float or walk in it with the current or go against it for a harder workout - and it is one, believe me. The other 2/3rds of that end are the deep end, which has a circular slide, a rock climbing wall over the water... and a diving board. They have a patio area in the back part of the pool prob of the building, with tables and lounge chairs for the summer. There's a nice lobby with several different sitting areas, and a full gym - though I haven't been in it. Last, but not least, there is a 2nd FULL SIZE POOL that is exclusively for lap swims & competition swimming. There are a few classroom /meeting areas off the lobby as well. The lifeguards are friendly and respectful - usually teenagers who've taken the thorough in house training.

The facility has lots of classes, such as swim lessons, water aerobics, Zumba classes, chair aerobics for Sr and disabled, and a variety of others. It's kept clean & their rates for drop ins, multi use passes, or memberships are very reasonable. We come here from Sherwood even though we have a community pool and gym available here in town - just because it has so much to offer in that main pool to help with rehab. I especially like the different sections of the main pool, and it's the only place I know of anywhere near here, that a physical therapist regularly sees her pool therapy clients at (sending a big thank you & shout out to Lisa from Chehalem physical Therapy for providing this option for people!). This...

3 stars because while there are a lot of pros to this pool there are also a lot of cons.

Pros: Very well maintained pool. Felt very clean, updated and well staffed. Plenty of family bathrooms so I can help my boys shower in peace. Very beautiful facility with a little something for everyone; firetruck, baby slide, and shallow water area, lazy river, larger swimming area, whirlpool and slide/rope swing area. Super fun to have all the different options in one place.

Cons: The manager made me take off my shoes and pay full price to simply stand and watch my child swim from the sideline. Never in my life have I been asked to do those things at a public swimming pool. It felt odd, unwelcoming and a desperate pull for more money.

They also had such strict rules. The most extreme rule is that they won’t let you swim with more than 2 children per adult even if they’re wearing life jackets (so large families you’re out of luck. Also strict rules for what you could do in each section of the pools (no swimming the wrong way or taking any floating devices in the lazy river), no floating devices in the larger pool (even though there is a large pile of fun pool toys stacked nearby), I can’t remember the rest of what people were reprimanded for, but it was over the top.

The water also felt too cold for my family and my kids could only swim about a 1/2 hour before they were too cold to continue. They won’t let children in the hot tub even with an adult, so there was no way to warm up except for to leave and go shower. My kids spent more time in the shower than in the pool. Wings and waves allows kids in the hot tubs which helps them warm up and want to stay longer.

We’ve swam at so many enjoyable pools where the management is much friendlier and more reasonable, the pricing is more cost effective, and the water is warmer. We’ve decided to drive farther for those pools...

The facility is clean and nice. The workers were also helpful and nice. The reason for the 3 stars is there is no easy access for the rehab facility that this aquatic center was built next to. I use to be able to wheel my mother out to the park there from a sidewalk. This facility was built taking away the nice park, but I thought I could still take my mother there for some swimming. I thought surely they would have left some sort of gate for access to the patients at this rehab facility next door, but there was not. We had to wheel her around the corner and onto a road with no sidewalk to get her there. The sidewalk that goes from the rehab up to the aquatic center should PLEASE have some access through that gate to avoid the road with no sidewalk. Seems like this was poorly planned when building. There are disability hours mon-fri 10:30-12:00 which is great, but to have better access from the rehab facility would be so much better. I did appreciate the special chair they have to wheel her into the water. I was told the temperature was 85 degrees, but it was a little too chilly for her when we tried. We will definitely try again when the weather...