The Ward Y in Abingdon

Fantastic experience: Great place to get back into the swing of physical fitness

Positive experience: I love the YMCA and this, our home Y, where my son worked as a lifeguard. My rating is four, because the acrions of the South Boston, Virginia YMCA reflect on YMCA as a whole. The South Boston, Virginia YMCA called the police on a little old black lady who apparently sat in the little old yt lady's seat for a seated exercise class and she refused to move (to the back of the bus). . Thank you Dr. Richey for sharing her story on TYT

Negative experience: Don't waste your time or money!

Negative experience: Life guard they don’t respect people ,they don’t work ,young people boys and girls talk each other’s some times kids has no discipline nothing they do ,sometimes they don’t refresh water or fresh air from outside all the time the back door is closed and etc

Fantastic experience: Jude, trainer extraordinar, and the manager who works customer service magic have made the process of getting the most from our ymca membership, fun and not embarrassing at all, which means the most to myself and my father. We both joined the ymca together because he needed some social interaction after my mom's passing and I was carrying thirty to forty extra pounds as well as living a unhealthy life. The ymca has offered options for me to use no matter how I'm feeling so that I can receive the motivation I've lacked in the past.

Negative experience: This Y is really nice. The only issue is have is the people at the front desk do not know what they are doing. Please train them right. No disrespect intended.

Fantastic experience: The best staff at the Y in Abingdon.

Fantastic experience: I love the Ward Y. Very Friendly and fun. Clean and well maintained!

Positive experience: I just enjoyed being at place where everyone gets along

Fantastic experience: Clean and organized love this place would come again

Fantastic experience: My kids and I love visiting this facility! I'm healing from a back injury so I'm taking advantage of the indoor pool to get some exercise in. Once I'm able, I'm most definitely going to the gym to workout, they have great equipment! There's seriously some sort of activity on the schedule for everyone.

Fantastic experience: Personable environment

Negative experience: Today after visiting this pool, we discovered that all the cash and expensive cologne (Givenchy Pi) had been stolen from our bag - it's outrageous! Our sports lockers were locked, and our things and bags were not left unattended at any time. This appears to be the work of someone skilled at theft, as they managed to access locked lockers without visible damage and carefully replaced everything to avoid immediate detection.

Fantastic experience: nice place

Fantastic experience: I take my son to the Y for swimming. He is 1.5 and I am teach him myself for now. I do have the opportunity to view group lessons as they start and the instructors seem knowledgeable and friendly. The locker rooms are always clean and well kept with a working suit dryer. The family bathrooms are spacious and perfect for him and I to get changed following our lesson as they include a personal shower and changing table. We are greeted by friendly staff as we enter and have always been met with a happy to help attitude when we have needed assistance. I highly recommend anyone interested in joining the Y do so sooner rather than later!

Fantastic experience: Love everything about the Y EXCEPT that it has no Sauna and pool (or room) is not warm enough.

Fantastic experience: Great experience with aquatic therapy and meeting new people...

Fantastic experience: I enjoy the friendly atmosphere, and the staff is usually friendly (except for the younger staff on the weekends). They're usually less attentive, don't acknowledge me when I check in, and are side-tracked with personal conversations. Other than that, the staff is great! The gym is always clean, presentable, and tidy. My son (15YO) loves going to gym, but he struggles with the gym area being closed at certain times for other activities. There's an excellent selection of weights and equipment. I've been a member of this gym since 2008, and it always amazes me how much the gym has grown in terms of upgrading equipment, in addition to still looking new and not showing its age.

Fantastic experience: The BODY COMBAT class by MONICA The ZUMBA class by DAE. These are the two best classes at this location. You absolutely get your workout done in these two classes!!! In addition, everyone is friendly and welcoming

Positive experience: I wanted to share a suggestion regarding the evening cycle sprint class. Today, I tried to join the 5:15 class, arriving at the Y around 4:57, knowing it's a popular class. Unfortunately, the class was full. While I'm not upset about missing the class, this experience prompted me to share some feedback. Currently to secure a spot in the 5:15 class you need to arrive at least 30 mins prior. For many people with standard work schedules, it's challenging to finish work and get to the Y in time. This schedule seem to favor members who are retired or have earlier work hours, making it less accessible to those who might want to try cycling but can't arrive so early. Would it be possible to consider moving the class start time back to 5:30 or better 6:00 PM. The later start time could allow more members, especially those working traditional schedules, to participate. It would be great to make this popular class accessible to a broader range of members. Secondly, it seem there are fewer bikes available since the update to new ones. With less capacity, fewer members can now participate. Would you consider adding a second evening class to accommodate more people who want to attend? Thank You for considering these suggestions.

Fantastic experience: Great gym and friendly staff. I have been a member for about 3 years and never had an issue. They updated the free weight section with a couple of new squat racks which is really nice and new calf machine. Basketball court has 6 baskets, only 2 of them are 10 ft though and the plastic tiles on the ground are inconsistent but overall a great affordable gym with a good atmosphere. Could use some more renovations and tlc but overall very nice for the price.

Fantastic experience: Excellent staff. Very friendly. Gym and bathrooms are clean.

Fantastic experience: The Y is a better fit because La Fitness is far from even though it was free, plus the Y has a heated pool and only Towson and maybe white Marsh has a pool. Again the distance is crazy to drive to La, when I can drive 7 minutes for a fee that is just as good as free. Well done YMCA well done. And the Y employees are not pushes to be charged more like LA Fitness

Negative experience: I was unable to shoot around on the empty side of the basketball court today at 10:00 AM though NO ONE WAS THERE. There is a whole curtain blocking access to the other side of the court where there was a kid/parent event. It is so silly to pay for a membership and be disappointed when you get there because you cannot play. In advance I checked the schedule before driving 30 minutes and there was nothing on the schedule mentioning the basketball court would be closed. Really tired of this. Here are some pictures showing the emptiness along with the schedule showing nothing inside the gym and failing to mention that the court would be closed. Honestly I should be refunded some gas money for wasting my time and gas in hopes of playing some damn basketball. Wtf

Fantastic experience: Wonderful staff and a clean great fitness center.

Fantastic experience: A great facility. Very helpful & friendly people. The pool is huge. The women's changing locker is very clean. I'm excited for my daughter to try the rock climbing wall. Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Love the Y, I feel safe using the pool here as the lifeguards are very attentive. Front desk staff is always friendly and alert too! Weight room stays clean and relatively uncrowded even at peak times.

Fantastic experience: Great place to get back into the fitness world. Lots of a variety of group classes.

Positive experience: I love the wide range of open hours, the pool, and the gym. The staff is friendly, professional, and supportive. I attended a Zumba class with the lovely Daie, and I plan to join more classes because it was a blast and definitely a great workout. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to swim during the cold months in an indoor pool; my only request is to have the pools a little warmer. Another thing is the y is all about helping people on a budget, but I wanted to skip a month and they pretty much make it impossible. I ended up having to “update” my payment online and I used an old visa gift card to replace my debit card information. Sad that I had to resort to this. Make it easier to pause memberships. I didn’t go at all in September so I wanted to pause October until we were going to pick it back up again and because I am budgeting.

Fantastic experience: I love the many class options and the children’s programming!

Fantastic experience: I FIND YMCA A VERY FRIENDLY AND FAMILY-LIKE EACILITY. IT IS A WELL-EQUIPPED GYM WITH QUALIFIED TRAINERS FOR HELPING ALL USERS.

Fantastic experience: To Everyone at the Walter Ward Y in Abingdon, I am grateful you are in my life. My dearly departed mother would note the same. Without judgement all of you volunteer your "Friendship" to diverse cultures with a smile. Which is truly the real meaning of the expression. "Friends are ones that know all about you and still love you." Elbert Hubbard Respectfully yours, Stacey Leigh' Weber

Fantastic experience: This place I never realized how valuable it could be. It truly feels like a family atmosphere and is a credit to the community. I'm thankful 100%. Can I work here?

Negative experience: This place is kinda racists. They have snobby rude attitudes. The White men especially are rude and ignorant here. I’m only here for a 3day pass and within those days I had to deal with 2 particular rude white men . This Is the only y in the area unfortunately but if your black look forward to rude attitudes shrugging their shoulders at you and not helping you when in need . Instead they will push you off to another worker. Mainly the lifeguards and an older man at the front desk with white hair .

Positive experience: Almost always have a good staff experience (one of the younger staff did use the R slur and caught me off guard). Not a fan of being rushed out at 9:45 when hours of operation states 10.

Positive experience: Variety of activities, friendly people, beautiful facility, convenient hours.

Negative experience: It’s sad that y’all are raising your prices it really confirms that this state is more about money and less about health and family it should be a better way to price members with inflation going up this not right.

Negative experience: Two days in a row the pool is closed without any notice and even called the second day which they proceeded to tell us the pool is open all day which it was not, it was closed for over an hour once we got there with the kids making us pack everything up and leave for the second day in a row… getting absolutely ridiculous and needs to be planned better to give everyone access regardless of an even!

Negative experience: Second day in a row calling prior to confirm the pool is open. When we get here, it’s closed. I have 2 children. Yesterday we got fully dressed floaties and all. The second we touch the water, we’re told we have to get out. My 3 year old was so upset… Today, AGAIN, I spent the last hour getting my family ready for the pool. Drove all the way here and the moment we walk in there’s a sign that the pool is closed. Again, my children are very upset. As a parent, I’m pissed!! 2 days in a row all of the time and energy it took to get 2 children ready for absolutely NOTHING.

Fantastic experience: Rewarding. Very accommodating exercise equipment.

Fantastic experience: There are a lot of activities for kids ages 1 and up, especially ages 3-12. At age 13 they can get their own scan tag to work out on their own.

Negative experience: Normally have had good experiences. We have been at the y for more than 10 years but today was a bad experience. One of the male workers begun shutting off lights inside the gym portion while I and others were lifting at 11:45 when the hours were until 12. Is this not a safety hazard? Then the male worker begun rushing us out saying they need to close and be out by 12. Hours of operation end at 12. 12 is when customers have to leave, not 11:55. Merry Christmas to you as well i guess.

Fantastic experience: What a great experience! The employees were wonderful, very helpful, and knowledgeable. Very clean and welcoming. Thank you.

Fantastic experience: The “Y” is a great place for family to engage in healthy activities. It’s very welcoming, clean, and all with modern equipment. Such a great place to visit. They also have lots of scheduled activities outside of their normal schedule throughout the year.

Fantastic experience: Our son is on the swim team, for physical fitness more than racing and enjoys the coaching and kids/ environment.

Fantastic experience: The Y is changing my life. I got the membership for my 16 yr old grandson that we now have custody of, because their were not to many basketball courts in Harford County. He wanted to burn of that youthful energy almost every day. So it was wonderful affordable way to let him play but also keep him safe. But now I am going for my self and enjoying the water aerobic classes and I love the variety of machines to work on.

Fantastic experience: Provided a 10 out of 10 rating.

Fantastic experience: Love the Y. Local folk, clean spaces.

Positive experience: Staff kind. Alot of programs and activities to do. Kind instructors

Fantastic experience: Friendly workers, large work out area, beautiful entry area, friendly members of the "Y"..

Fantastic experience: Friendly staff and clean gym. Would recommend!

Positive experience: I love the welcoming greetings, especially from Jules.

Fantastic experience: The best and most affordable exercise facility for families in Harford County.

Fantastic experience: I enjoy working out at the Y and taking my daughter to stay & play. #memberover10yrs

Fantastic experience: I love this place! My little girl and I go often and she is learning social skills while I get to workout!

Fantastic experience: The staff is always knowledgeable and friendly. The facility is always clean. My entire family enjoys the Y in Abingdon.

Fantastic experience: My family and I love the Y Ward in Abingdon. From the staff who is friendly and helpful to the cleanliness of the facilty. Such a family oriented place!

Fantastic experience: The YMCA in Abingdon provides outstanding services because they make me feel like I belong there and greet me in a friendly manner when checking in.

Negative experience: Do not go here the life guard harass you and if you have a child with a handy Capp they are gonnna discriminate as much as they can the cealing was leakjj in g for a month and they put you through so much hassle to use the pool it’s either always getting fixed closed or so dirty the water is gray Ilso if you have tattoos or a handicap you’re technically not a human to them I been there for a year now and have been disrespected every time I go there unprofessional

Positive experience: The Abingdon Y facility is cared for and the staff is kind and contentious. The equipment, the pool, the rock wall...everything is in great shape and the classes are great!

Fantastic experience: Swimming Lessons are the Best! First Class Instructors☺️

Fantastic experience: I always enjoy the classes. They're effective, fun, and well-organized. I've made several friends at the Ward Y with participants, staff, and instructors. Highly recommend. :-)

Fantastic experience: I love the classes and the stay and play amenity! Everyone is so kind and helpful! The students and instructors are so welcoming to new comers! The stay and play have been so helpful with son and his anxiety with new people.

Fantastic experience: I love taking my family to the Ward Y in Abingdon. They have clean, updated equipment and facilities. We especially enjoy the pool and the free organized classes for my young son.

Negative experience: The equipment is constantly broken. The staff doesn’t seem to have a problem with this. Came this morning for a quick workout and four exercise bikes were out of service. Pay money for membership and equipment is either broken or out dated. Do better

Fantastic experience: Clean and well-equipped family center with pool, workout facilities, and programming for all ages. The model youth legislature program has representation here - highly recommended for high school students. Staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to help with anyrhing drom workout guidance to card replacement to schedules. I live 40 minutes away, but if I have my kit and am in the area, I try to stop by if at all possible.

Negative experience: I have been a member here since leaving active duty service in 2020, and have had no issues with staff or conditions until today. How hard is it to take 4 screws off the side of the stair- master to retrieve an AirPod that fell I was told by the gentleman working the floor (Mike) that he does not feel comfortable… this is the second time this has happened to me, but last time there was no issue opening the side of the machine. It’s a shame that we have people working the floor but cannot do something this simple. I supposed getting a head count every hour is all that is required in the job description. Reconsidering my membership

Positive experience: I called today because I had questions and concerns regarding the Family Pool Policy and special needs children. The woman who answered was so helpful, thorough, and accommodating. At the end of the call, she said, "My name is Amy, and I'm the Director, feel free to call anytime." I think it's amazing for her to take calls for the front desk when they're busy. My family really enjoys it here, and this just adds to the experience. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: My family LOVES the Y!! When we come in everyone always greets us with a huge smile because we are there almost everyday. We just love the "Hi Wing Family!" that we receive when we walk in. We love the stay and play as well! All the staff knows my daughter and she loved all her "teachers" as she calls them:) She will be going to school this year so she won't be there as much but I honestly feel because of the stay and play environment, it has gotten her ready for Kindergarten. We love it and definitely recommend it!

Negative experience: Ann at the front desk was rude and nasty When I called over the phone, had to show up Talk to Scott about memberships. But I do not believe I will be going back to this gym ever. I felt as if I was unwelcome so I'm out!

Negative experience: Up until about 3 weeks ago I would have given this 4 stars. Now I can't go there anymore. Pre-Covid the Y was open until 10pm. Post-Covid they are only open until 9pm. For someone that has to workout at night due to family and work that was still ok, I could get there by 7:45pm and be done by 9pm. However in the last month they started kicking everyone out of the building at 8:45pm. I asked the front desk why all of a sudden that was happening and that 9pm MEANS 9pm. He said that was what management wanted. Apparently 9pm means the employees get to leave at 9pm, and the paying customers don't get the full time of the facility hours. This has forced me to sign up at Planet Fitness and cancel my Y membership. Not only is it markedly cheaper, but I don’t get thrown out 15 minutes before the actual closing time. So I won't be working out here anymore.

Negative experience: It’s o.k. There are always a bunch of cardio machines down and others have parts that are literally held together with duct tape (not exaggerating). What I absolutely can’t stand though are members who don’t wipe equipment down after use. There are canisters of wipes located throughout the exercise floor but you regularly have members who are either too clueless or too lazy to use them. Is this the gym’s fault? I don’t know. There are exactly two small signs asking people -rather than making a statement of policy- to wipe down equipment after use. I emailed the management some time back explaining the problem and offering several suggestions (increased signage, an occasional announcement over the PA, having the workers monitor this more closely) and there was zero response. This has nothing to do with Covid mitigation but is basic public gym protocol. As I see it, The Ward Y simply doesn’t view this as a priority.

Negative experience: I was really a fan for all the years my family and I been Y members. However, recently there was a situation that has negatively impacted my special needs child versus several staff members. If you have children with special needs please note they are not willing to accommodate you and when this was addressed via phone the executive director Amy Vendt took it upon herself to be insensitive and laugh about it while on the phone with me. Over the years they have been anything but family oriented.

Negative experience: We are nonmembers that signed up for the parent and child swim class. The toddler swim classes at this location are some of the cheapest in the area. We drive over thirty minutes to attend classes at this Y. They were also one of the few locations that still had available classes when I was shopping in February. The only positive of our entire experience was the sweet swim instructor; however, the curriculum is certainly lacking. The exact, same activities were completed each class. During one session, we had a substitute that clearly did not want to be there. The following week, there was no class at all. The only communication was an email 2 days prior. Because there had been no communication in this format prior, our family missed this point of contact. The only compensation provided for the missed class was an extension for 10 additional minutes to our remaining three classes. The pool is so cold for little ones that most of the class is already spent when the typical class is over, as they’re freezing. The final negative experience was that we were informed, after our 3rd to final class of 8 total classes, that we were using the wrong woman’s locker room. The communication has certainly been a downfall of our experience. We’ve decided the final two classes aren’t worth the hassle. It’s beyond frustrating to make the decision that a life skill for my daughter just isn’t worth the time, effort, and continued frustration of this facility. We will not be returning or recommending to fellow parents.

Fantastic experience: Awesome place that has great programs for everyone in the family!

Fantastic experience: Fitness weight equipment is fairly up-to-date, unlike other local fitness clubs have outdated equipment. Y facility is very complete with availability of many aspects of health & fitness equipment, classes, swimming pool rooms, spin...etc. Very clean and facility for children is great, but my only complaint is parent-toddler activities/events are hardly ever at the Y-Ward location and so inconvenient for my wife to take our 2 yr old son to those events. Y-Ward needs to have more for Mom's with toddlers.

Fantastic experience: This place was fun I'm coming back today maybe might see the gym.

Fantastic experience: Great gym! Child care workers are great! Lots of machines and huge pools! They also offer lots of summer camp options. Monthly memberships are very affordable. Definitely worth checking out!

Fantastic experience: OK so first off I wanna say that the number the stars are because the people don’t pay attention simply put on the website it states when guests are allowed to be there when the pools open to the families when every thing has a schedule everything stated perfectly clearly I can’t read very well but I can definitely read their website there are flyers in the lobby the people are quite nice I’ve never had any issues with the people and I’ve been going I had gone there for about three months loved it wanted to continue to go there but I could not afford it and my because my husband makes a lot of money I didn’t want to even bother trying to get assistance i’ve never known a place that considers the majority of people they have gym memberships for poor people people that can’t pay at all and it’s not that expensive for the people that are rich every single thing even camp any child’s able to attend as long as you go through the correct procedures the only thing I don’t like is that the gym has all electrical parts like I really don’t like to exercise and I feel like there’s really no exercise I’m very fond of besides water the family pools not the biggest and the hours aren’t the greatest on the weekend but they try to help the majority of families be able to do the things that they want to do so I understand I wish the daycare area it’s not called the daycare it’s called the playroom or whatever but I wish that open all day if it was open all day then that would be amazing so that every parent could be able to drop off their kid and go exercise there should be a time limit of course but besides that YMCA has been helpful for years for me they taught me how to swim they taught my kids how to swim I couldn’t ask for more polite people I got a rude mouth on me so when I get mad I get real mad but the lady that I had talk to you was kind and patient understanding it was she’s she was very sweet I explain to them on the first day I have seven different mental disabilities my daughter has five different mental abilities starting with all Chisholm and my son has slow learning disabilities they excepted us they worked with us so that our family could be healthier who the hell does that this place does this place makes it possible to have a family Grow closer together so if you got a bad Mills the YMCA realize maybe it’s your fault that you didn’t pay attention or look it up correctly maybe you should’ve been more capable of communication

Fantastic experience: I love that I can drop my children at the Stay and Play while I work out. The Stay and Play Staff do art projects and play games with my kiddos, which makes me feel more at ease in their care while I am working out. I also love that I can grab a coffee at the coffee station early in the mornings. That little cup of free coffee makes my Y expereince feel so welcoming. The best is the swimming and rock wall for my children!!!! We swim and climb at least 3 times a week...year round!!!! Playing for a Y membership is way more affordable than rockclimbig and swim clubs! Not to mention, the organized kids sports are sooooo afforadble at the Ward Y!

Fantastic experience: A clean place to workout and a lot of equipment to use! Staff is courteous and helpful!

Fantastic experience: Fantastic spot for lap swim and a great gym. Friendly staff and the child care is excellent!

Fantastic experience: The Ward Y was a fantastic resource for my family even before the pandemic. Now, the Y has become a necessity. Our 6 year old has enjoyed having a safe, clean, socially distanced place to interact with other children. I feel confident that the Y has taken appropriate precautions in adapting the fitness room to continue to make it a safe place to exercise. The staff at the Y have remained unfailingly courteous and compassionate through these trying times.

Fantastic experience: I love the pool for water walking since I am unable to walk without assistance normally. Everyone is very nice and the Y is always clean and inviting.

Fantastic experience: Love this place! Easy to have fun and get fit. Everyone is helpful, pleasant, professional and creates a great atmosphere. The facility is clean, well kept, up to date and a huge variety of opportunity for fun and fitness.

Fantastic experience: The Y has everything you can ask - a clean facility; friendly staff; plenty of activities; wonderful equipment; and a great atmosphere. I've been in various gyms/activity centers for the past 20 years, and the Y in Abingdon is easily my best experience!

Fantastic experience: Great place to workout, swim and play ball

Fantastic experience: Convenient location and hours. Swimming pool offered for use. Mostly available for lap swimming. Staff are accommodating and responsive to needs of members. Clean and highly functional facility.

Fantastic experience: Great people and facilities

Fantastic experience: I am s member glad they are opening.

Fantastic experience: Clean facility and friendly staff!

Fantastic experience: Very clean, updated equipment

Fantastic experience: My family and I are new to this location and Ms. Karen is awesome! Very patient, very detailed and clear. I’d recommend this location 100 times over.

Fantastic experience: Everyone is so nice & helpful. From the front desk to the people in the exercise room, to the cleaning person(s). I especially like the life guards & am really impressed with the Aqua Arthritis Instructor. She is very personable, fun & switches the music/exercises up so we don’t get bored. I enjoy that class so much that I’m often surprised when it’s over. I don’t suffer from arthritis but I do have chronic pain so I’m very thankful that this class helps relieve my pain & migraines. I also had my teenage daughter in their homeschool art class & she really enjoyed it. I thought the teacher was kind & wonderful.

Fantastic experience: Great facility. The pool is a great resource for fitness. The entire complex is a good space.

Fantastic experience: All over Maryland I am seeing Y’s of my boyhood dreams. We did not have facilities of this quality and this plentiful in the sixties and seventies. Now we do, Wow! This is proof that in some ways the world has become a better place.

Fantastic experience: This is a great place to enjoy a workout with plenty of space and a good selection of exercise equipment.

Fantastic experience: I loved the fact that a lot of the machines with the same focus were sorted together (or atleast they seemed to be). The facility was clean with a large variety of machines. I just wish they had a sauna.

Fantastic experience: The environment has always been great, but it is very clear that the necessary precautions are being taken to get the members close to being back to normal. I look forward to the time when the Y is back in full operation.

Fantastic experience: This YMCA rocks. What it lacks in equipment makes up in availability; plenty of time to work out pretty much unbothered. Went here daily from Sep to Nov for the gym, swim, and hoop. Lost 30 pounds. Now I know they took down some of that back section and expanded, so even better.