Desperately looking for options so I can go swimming
May 15, 2013 11:38 AM Subscribe
Alternative options for finding an indoor pool to go swimming in the early afternoon.
Swimming is my passion. I've loved to do it since I first took swimming lessons as a youngin. It is the only physical activity that I actively enjoy. It's immensely relaxing for me. Imagine an activity that fills you with absolute joy. For me, that activity is being in water.
At one point in time of my life it was easy to find a pool. I had neighbors, friends with pools, friends who lived in complexes with pools, and a local place that had open swim all the time. I have lost all of that it seems. My neighbor does have a pool, but I'm not granted her permission to use it. I no longer have those friends or they don't have pools anymore. The local place doesn't have open swim until the evening.
I have already looked into the following:
Local Gyms with pools
Swimming is my passion. I've loved to do it since I first took swimming lessons as a youngin. It is the only physical activity that I actively enjoy. It's immensely relaxing for me. Imagine an activity that fills you with absolute joy. For me, that activity is being in water.
At one point in time of my life it was easy to find a pool. I had neighbors, friends with pools, friends who lived in complexes with pools, and a local place that had open swim all the time. I have lost all of that it seems. My neighbor does have a pool, but I'm not granted her permission to use it. I no longer have those friends or they don't have pools anymore. The local place doesn't have open swim until the evening.
I have already looked into the following:
Local Gyms with pools
- There is only one near me, and it's one of those giant monstrosities with prices far outside my budget and what I would use it for.
- Most open swims don't start until 5pm or 6pm on weekdays. I can only go in the early afternoon
- Can't find any that are indoor.
- I have precious few and none of them own a pool or live in a complex with one.
Washtenaw County Rec Center on Washtenaw near US 23 has open swim in the hours you need - note link is a pdf. Don't know if that's too far from Canton.
posted by leslies at 11:41 AM on May 15, 2013
posted by leslies at 11:41 AM on May 15, 2013
Hotels with pools? Have you checked to see if the monstrosity gym will give you a scholarship/reduced rate?
posted by mareli at 11:42 AM on May 15, 2013
posted by mareli at 11:42 AM on May 15, 2013
There is only one near me, and it's one of those giant monstrosities with prices far outside my budget and what I would use it for.
If this is a place like LA Fitness or the like, I know that I've had friends have great success in getting a ridiculously awesome price for a membership just by asking for it.
They say, "gym membership is blah blah blah dollars and you get all these lovely amenities blah blah blah." And you say, "yeah, I can't afford blah blah blah, my budget is more along the lines of blergh." And then you guys go back and forth and you say, "look, all I'd ever want to use it for is pool access, and for that I am willing to pay blergh or I'm not interested in a membership." And then they will give you a severely discounted membership.
They'd rather bank on having a paying member (who they figure will come in for two weeks then pretty much never again, as is the case with most gym membership owners) than no member.
posted by phunniemee at 11:44 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
If this is a place like LA Fitness or the like, I know that I've had friends have great success in getting a ridiculously awesome price for a membership just by asking for it.
They say, "gym membership is blah blah blah dollars and you get all these lovely amenities blah blah blah." And you say, "yeah, I can't afford blah blah blah, my budget is more along the lines of blergh." And then you guys go back and forth and you say, "look, all I'd ever want to use it for is pool access, and for that I am willing to pay blergh or I'm not interested in a membership." And then they will give you a severely discounted membership.
They'd rather bank on having a paying member (who they figure will come in for two weeks then pretty much never again, as is the case with most gym membership owners) than no member.
posted by phunniemee at 11:44 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Have you checked with a hospital? Mine has a Center for Wellness. It is a fabulous modern gym with all of the amenities including a pool.
posted by michellenoel at 11:52 AM on May 15, 2013
posted by michellenoel at 11:52 AM on May 15, 2013
The park district in my town does not have a pool, so our local public high schools keep one lane open for community residents at all times. This is a "park district" activity, even though it's free and occurs at the HS.
Your park district may have an agreement with some other entity in the area.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 12:02 PM on May 15, 2013
Your park district may have an agreement with some other entity in the area.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 12:02 PM on May 15, 2013
Do you have any smallish hotels/motels near you with indoor pools? I don't know if it's a widespread thing, but we had a monthly membership to use the pool at a local hotel when I was in high school. it might be worth making a few phone calls.
posted by lemniskate at 12:25 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by lemniskate at 12:25 PM on May 15, 2013
Have you looked up what's near you with this website?
posted by megancita at 12:25 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by megancita at 12:25 PM on May 15, 2013
Nthing hotels. I pay for a membership to a hotel gym with a pool, it's around $40 a month I think.
I have a friend who only used the pool at a different hotel on her lunch hour. I forget what she paid but it wasn't much I don't think.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 12:27 PM on May 15, 2013
I have a friend who only used the pool at a different hotel on her lunch hour. I forget what she paid but it wasn't much I don't think.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 12:27 PM on May 15, 2013
Definitely local colleges or universities, along with local hotel chains.
posted by jetlagaddict at 12:28 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by jetlagaddict at 12:28 PM on May 15, 2013
In addition to hotels, some apartment buildings with community pools offer memberships to outsiders but may not advertise broadly.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:29 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:29 PM on May 15, 2013
Thirding hotels. I used to swim at a hotel regularly, and it was extremely reasonable.
posted by ambrosia at 1:52 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by ambrosia at 1:52 PM on May 15, 2013
Our local high schools all have pools that see at least some community use during the day. Maybe check with yours?
posted by charmedimsure at 1:53 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by charmedimsure at 1:53 PM on May 15, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions so far. I called all my local hotels with pools and they don't offer the use of them to anyone other then guests. One person told me that's because their insurance only covers guests.
lemniskate, I work not far from there. Thanks! I'll give them a call.
KathrynT, There's one YMCA in the area, but it's kind of far away and their website makes it seem like the whole place is geared towards kids.
posted by royalsong at 2:44 PM on May 15, 2013
lemniskate, I work not far from there. Thanks! I'll give them a call.
KathrynT, There's one YMCA in the area, but it's kind of far away and their website makes it seem like the whole place is geared towards kids.
posted by royalsong at 2:44 PM on May 15, 2013
Our small city has a wellness center with a pool at the rehab center that offers memberships, and one of the larger nursing homes also has a wellness center with a pool for employees that offers outside memberships. You might look into facilities like those.
posted by tamitang at 2:45 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by tamitang at 2:45 PM on May 15, 2013
My university has a special membership rate for local, non-university affiliated people. Do you have a college or uni nearby?
posted by apricot at 2:51 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by apricot at 2:51 PM on May 15, 2013
If you're talking about the Ann Arbor YMCA, I used to belong and it's got an absolutely fabulous pool. There's a kiddie pool as well, which is separate, so the large lap pool is largely kid-free, which is also fabulous. It's not too hot, the locker rooms are great, there are excellent pricing options, and parking is easy. I totally recommend the Y.
Also call local physical therapy offices and ask where they send their patients for in-water PT. They may have done all this legwork for you.
posted by Capri at 3:27 PM on May 15, 2013
Also call local physical therapy offices and ask where they send their patients for in-water PT. They may have done all this legwork for you.
posted by Capri at 3:27 PM on May 15, 2013
Two of the nursing homes near me have pools that are open to use by the community. Some of the physical therapy offices also have Endless Pool type of facilities, if that would work for you.
posted by HotToddy at 6:11 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by HotToddy at 6:11 PM on May 15, 2013
Two local Jewish Community Centers that I know of have fantastic pools. Is that an option?
posted by bendy at 7:38 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by bendy at 7:38 PM on May 15, 2013
Nthing high schools, colleges, community centers (even senior centers even if you aren't a senior-- sometimes they'll cut you a deal, especially if you volunteer), your local YMCA. The focus on kids is mostly marketing at most YMCAs. I am an adult with no children and I swim mainly at my YMCA-- they don't care, they'll take anyone, and most of them have a financial aid application if that's an issue. In general the YMCA is a good organization, friendly people-- you can always ask.
If you haven't tried swimmersguide.com, they have a handy lookup with details about all the pools they know in your area. It is pretty thorough in my experience.
You may not find a single place to swim every afternoon. Most lap swimmers seem to go in the early morning, and some in the evening (I guess to work around most people's work schedules.) So you may have to make a routine of Monday/Wednesday at one place, Thursday/Friday at another, Tuesday/Saturday at a third. You might also want to look for water aerobics or AquaZumba, which is not swimming, but at least you'd be in the water. Good luck!
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:47 PM on May 15, 2013
If you haven't tried swimmersguide.com, they have a handy lookup with details about all the pools they know in your area. It is pretty thorough in my experience.
You may not find a single place to swim every afternoon. Most lap swimmers seem to go in the early morning, and some in the evening (I guess to work around most people's work schedules.) So you may have to make a routine of Monday/Wednesday at one place, Thursday/Friday at another, Tuesday/Saturday at a third. You might also want to look for water aerobics or AquaZumba, which is not swimming, but at least you'd be in the water. Good luck!
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:47 PM on May 15, 2013
Are you near a lake or a beach? You could get a wet suit if it's really cold.
posted by carolr at 10:38 AM on May 16, 2013
posted by carolr at 10:38 AM on May 16, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Are there any local masters swimming groups? Find out, and then see where they swim. Or join them, even, if you want a good workout.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:41 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]