St. Paul Midway YMCA

"I've been a YMCA member for least 48+ years in various states. I kept my membership throughout the pandemic because I didn't want the Midway YMCA to close like the other ones did!!! I believe in the programs that the YMCA provides. Also, I worked at the original Midway YMCA as a lifeguard. I taught swimming lessons for years at other YMCA's. So, the early morning pools hours (especially the leisure pool/vortex(lots of people with injuries/disabilities use this) have been greatly reduced. So, when those pools are open it is super crowded and honestly not so fun!. I contacted the Midway YMCA and the aquatic director indicated that the rules about staffing pools have changed. Is there really nothing that can be done about this?"

"The cleaner should get a raise. It’s quiet and safe. I wish they would replace some of the numerous unused cardio machines with a better selection of weight machines, though. There’s only one leg press machine for the whole gym, nothing for calves, and only one each of many other machines that are in high demand."

"DISCRIMINATION AGAINST TRANGENDER PERSON Yes hi my name is LaMarquita leach. I am writing this on behalf of my transgender friend Jayapollo Simmons. Yesterday January 23rd 2024 me and my friend had been doordashing all day in the cold and had decided we wanted to go hit the hot tub. So I said there’s no better place then the ymca to do that. However I wouldn’t be saying this after the incident that was about to take place. Upon entering the YMCA on midway in St. Paul mn I noticed a very colorful sticker that said Pride. Now I haven’t always had the best experience with the YMCA being I was just illegally fired this past summer. So me seeing this I thought hey maybe this one could be different. We head to the front desk and at this point I’m real excited to get going because I’m so amped to play basketball. My depression and anxiety has finally been stable I’m feeling like this is going to be great. Both of us get checked in at the desk then proceed to go to the locker room. I get my clothes and get dressed. Then my friend starts to get there clothes to go get changed. Upon doing that there is a cleaner whom at this point is hard core staring at my friends. They get ready to go to the bathroom and the same lady who had been staring stands in my friends path."

"The cleaning staff goes above and beyond. The locker room is always clean, showers included. The staff also come up to the gym area and clean all the equipment, too. The exercise equipment is in good shape and if something breaks you just let the team know and they seem to have it fixed quickly. Alex will give you a full tour and explain all the membership benefits and answer all your questions. Front desk staff are super friendly and helpful too. Personal trainer Kevin is great and customized a plan specific to my goals."

"The facility is limited, particularly it's walking Track, and seems to be overly busy. Upon joining, I was disappointed as a veteran that I received conflicting information about my membership rate. It was an unpleasant surprise when officially signing up. The person (Alex) completing the membership was Unapologetic, and that bothered me because of the this information and the cost being higher than I'd anticipated. These organizations make lots of money on memberships and donations, and sometimes lose sight of their responsibility and accountability to the public. Upon cancelation, prior to the end of the FREE promotion, was charged $60 anyway, with no explanation or prior disclosure. Alex got confrontational, and is Dishonest, which does not reflect well on the YMCA..an organization that started as a Christian organization."