West Suburban YMCA - Newton, Massachusetts

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February 9. Here I am sitting in the parking lot 30 minutes after their scheduled opening time on Sundays. According to Google, they are open. According to their website, they are open. According to every email I have received from them recently, they should be open. Only after calling their phone number did I find out that they have delay delayed their opening time to 9AM this morning. I don’t know why the YMCA would decide NOT to send out an email notification about this delay to members, when they frequently send email notifications about far more trivial matters. Note: If you are changing your schedule for any reason, it is on you to PROACTIVELY inform members. Choosing not to do so is a blatant sign of disrespect toward members. If you care so much about member safety (as your automated voice message says), you would’ve sent out a notification in advance so that members wouldn’t risk driving here thinking you are open. Instead, I have watched countless people show up, walk up to the door, and then turn around to leave. This means that they drove here unnecessarily, and then had to drive home unnecessarily. All because you didn’t alert members of the delayed opening in a proactive manner. You had time to set up the voice message on your answering machine yesterday, but didn’t have time to send out an email notification? Irresponsible, disrespectful, unprofessional. Do this again and I will cancel my membership without hesitation.

Hussein Alhadi

I was bullied and harassed for 6 straight weeks by the morning basketball crew. The Bullies wanted the entire court to themselves and tried to kick me off the court every Monday Wednesday and Friday when I refused to leave they would swear at me constantly. Management was well aware of the situation and did absolutely NOTHING about it it was a horrible experience. If you are thinking to join this gym the first question I would ask is why does this organization tolerate bullying The YMCAs response below is pure propaganda. They didn't take any measures. Saying that they took measures is a 100 percent pure unadulterated LIE. On December 7 the pathetic Bullies "Pearl Harbored" me, they lined up at half court and were simultaneously screaming and swearing at me. I had enough and started screaming and swearing back at them. If I could show you the video of the "Pearl Harbor" incident I guarantee you the Newton YMCA would never get another new memeber. I was told by Management that I would be receiving an apology from the leader of the bullies that never happened it was just more incompetence by Management. There is a curtain that drops from the ceiling that can split the court in half all management had to do was drop the curtain and there would not have been any problems. when I asked the COO Kimberly Benzan why they didn’t do that. The response I got was I don’t know. I spoke with her a second time, and she still refused to answer the question. She was very smug talking over me, arrogant and completely useless based on my experiences. I found Kimberly Benson to be totally incompetent.Moreover, on December 9th after the Pearl Harbor incident I was STILL being heckled by the bullies. She offered me a pittance of an offer saying I will give you 3 free months if you rejoin the Newton YMCA, I wouldn't join the Newton YMCA if you offered me a free membership for the rest of my life. I sent a critical email to the President, Jack Fucci not only did he not respond but when I tried to send a follow up email, my email was Blocked. I joined the Brighton YMCA right after I left the Newton YMCA I get along very well with both the staff and the Brighton morning basketball crew. I am in my mid-50's and have blonged to several gyms since I was in high school, The Newton YMCA was by far the WORST gym I ever joined!! The Management at the Newton YMCA is beyond completely incompetent I wish I could give the Newton YMCA 0 stars

Limor Gabay

I’ve used the Y for years and generally happy with them but the time allocated to youth swimmers (under 16) is just grossly insufficient. Especially in the summer, when youth swimmers have the time to practice and get better, the smaller pool is completely off limits due to camps. The bigger pool hardly offers them two time slots a week (and not very convenient time slots at that). This is while adults get access to the pool almost for the entire time it’s open. Youth also pay membership. In my opinion, this is almost a discrimination as far as pool use goes. Why can’t one lane be dedicated always for youth swimmers?

Janet Porcaro

The West Suburban YMCA is one of the cornerstones of the Newton community. Beautiful facility with state of the art equipment, brilliant staff, two fabulous pools. Every time I have a client moving to Newton, I recommend they join the West Suburban YMCA.

Katie Murphy

The Y has such amazing programming for children. Both of our kids have attended the Preschool which has done such a great job preparing them for school, and we’ve also done the swim lessons once our daughter started going to elementary school (weekly swim lessons are included for the preschool!! One of the greatest perks!). All of the staff have been so warm and welcoming and I cannot say enough great things about them!

Also wanted to provide a special call out for how the Y handled the recent NTA strike - they quickly pivoted and provided a much needed program for working parents of Newton. My daughter came home every day with new crafts and stories of her new friends!

T

Mostly great, helpful staff. The gym floor is often teeming with teenagers who just aren’t doing their reps quickly enough and are there to just stare at the mirror. And someone please tell the old chaps to cover up around little ones in the locker. Many obsessed with just waltzing around without any clothes on, while the dads rush their kids to a quieter spot. Is it so hard to put a bloody towel on?

Conor Nugent

Nice place generally. Decent equipment. I think many members talk too much while saying too little but hey maybe that's your jam.

Do avoid the fitness coach though. I tried taking his unsolicited advice (should have known better by the shape he's in) and it knocked my knees out for the evening.

Also, do not use the men's hot tub; this one enormously fat guy is in there every day and there's no way he could clean himself properly even if he did shower beforehand, which he doesn't.

Dominique Astier

Although I no longer have young children, the after-school program, specifically Seamus Bruno, has caught my attention. The manner in which he interacts with the children is so kind, warm, caring and engaging. It is clear he loves his job, and he wants the kids in his program to be happy and feeling they belong there. He is always upbeat and smiling, patient and professional. Very impressive.