Optimist Aquatic Center — Local services in Raleigh

NOT KID FRIENDLY!!! The life guard on duty had an issue with me and my children the minute we stepped into the pool. 1st she didn't like how close my daughter was to the stairs when she was jumping into the pool. So we moved to the middle of the pool so she can slowly jump in. 2nd. She didn't like how my daughter was jumping into the pool. Her face was too close to the water when she was jumping in. So I just told her not to jump in any more. 3rd. She had a issue with my daughter not having a life jacket on. "Saying if she can't swim she needs to have a jacket on". She didn't let my daughter get off the stairs before blowing the whistle at her. She had swimming lessons at this exact pool! She is 4ft tall and the pool is 3'6 she can touch the bottom without a life jacket!! I thought as a Raleigh native and resident me and my children could swim at any Raleigh park and rec pools but not this one!! We couldn't do anything without getting into trouble.

We normally go to Buffalo pool but it's closed. We have gone to Buffalo many times without any issues with life jackets or jumping into the pool. My daughter had an early release from school and we normally hit the pool on these days because they are less crowded. But I guess we can't go to this one. It's only for adults and seniors.

No where on there rule states a child can't not swim without a life jacket! A waste of money! I Though an hour of pool time with my kids would be a nice treat for them. Didn't realize we would get into so much trouble and only be there for less than...

I have to drop my review...been going here for 2 years. Never had such an issue getting in after 6. Too many dive and snorkel classes. Have been going to other city pools because they have swim classes share open areas with people who need to get their physical therapy done every day. Dont try that here, the adult women who teach kids here will be nasty when they talk to you. Not cordial at all. And i am sad to report, the closing people must not be scrubbing the floors like they did before this summer because even last summer wasnt this bad as far as cleanliness. There has been green algae color mold growing on the white strips in womens shower for 2 weeks that i have noticed. And the womens locker room didnt smell like a giant pee pad last summer when they were so busy. Seems like someone isint staying on top of cleaning. Really glad i can use my pass at millbrook. Not ideal for what i need. But i can get in and locker room isint disgusting and instructors are more cordial for people who may not know where...

This is the best and best managed pool in the Raleigh City Pool system. The management staff are friendly and keep the facility in excellent shape. Water temperature is perfect for lap swimming--not too chilly in the winter, and very refreshing in the high summer heat because of the cover over the pool area. The locker rooms since the refresh (I used to swim at Optimist back in the day when it was bubbled in the winter and open in the summer) are excellent, bright, light and always clean. It's a true Olympic size pool, 50 meters by 25 yards and in the summer long course is available early morning weekdays and all weekend long which is wonderful. With an "overflow" type of gutter design, the pool has minimal chop for lap swimming even when lots of people are using it. So it's a "fast" pool with a large digital pace clock that is easy to see from the water. A great...