About
The City Center YMCA, located at 265 Harrisburg Ave in Lancaster, PA, is a comprehensive community fitness and wellness center. It offers a wide range of programs and facilities, including a fitness center, group exercise classes, and aquatic facilities, catering to individuals and families for health and recreational pursuits within the Lancaster community.
The City Center YMCA features multiple pools, including a lap pool and a warm water pool. The lap pool is typically maintained in the range of 80-82°F (26.7-27.8°C) suitable for competitive and recreational swimming. The warm water pool, ideal for therapy, lessons, and general recreational use, is generally kept warmer, often between 86-90°F (30-32.2°C).
What are people saying (AI review summary)? The Lancaster YMCA is generally viewed as a remarkable and well-run facility offering a wide array of exercise options, including modern Precor equipment (bikes, treadmills, weight machines), free weights, a basketball court, an upstairs track with views, a large pool, hot tub, and sauna. Staff are often described as nice, and the membership is diverse, with day passes available for visitors. However, two significant concerns were raised: a notable lack of privacy in the locker room showers, which are open and without curtains, leading to discomfort and safety concerns regarding children; and inconsistent enforcement of designated pool lanes for aqua exercise, causing frustration and feelings of discrimination among seniors and members with disabilities who feel undervalued compared to lap swimmers.
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Amenities
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Accepts Credit Cards
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Accessible Entrance
Reviews
Listing Reviews
March 5th, 2025Ann Boehm
This is a remarkable gem in historic Lancaster. Traveling to be with family I emailed in advanced and learned from Jenn that this Y has day passes. Terrific! Only $10.00 (March 2025) and the facility is top notch with super nice employees too. The members were diverse in age, size, ethnicity and ability and all were welcomed. Filled with Precor equipment- stationary bikes (both recumbent and upright), weight machines, treadmills, stair masters - weight machines, a basketball court and a pool which had an ambient temperature of 80degrees the day I was there. Lots of lanes for swimming and I was there after lunch and there were lanes open, and easily accommodated my slow pace. The hot tub and sauna was delightful too. This really is a treasure that this visitor to Lancaster is most grateful to have discovered. Thank you!
May 17th, 2025Randy Neal
Hello , let me begin by saying that the ymca in Lancaster has purpose to it. People go in there and do there job as if they’re working. It’s interesting to see the younger generation here is participating just as the adults do. Getting in shape. It is amazing. There is a flip side that I have witnessed. The showers are not protected. Meaning the showers itself for privacy. Outdated system that seems as though it’s tolerated or unspoken of because of people , or donors who do not like change. Here’s the thing when I see kids in the locker room who have to pee. They have to walk past the showers and see all older naked men. It s open territory. I hate to say it . There are pedophiles around. You go to city ymcas and they have curtains. Hey y’all like it or not. It’s your children back there. They don’t need to see openness every time they go tho the restroom.
December 8th, 2020Anita Folmar
It was a nice workout. I enjoy the bicycles and the treadmills and see track up on the third floor at this point that's all I have used but I appreciate it all them different types of ways to exercise at the YMCA.
March 16th, 2017Jamy Kunjappu
Well run gym with good selection of free weights, bikes, treadmills, ellipticals and machines. It also has a nice basketball court and track upstairs with large windows and good views. Large pool and hot tub/sauna as well.
January 16th, 2025Patricia Hanahoe-Dosch
They pretend to be supportive of people who want to use the pool for aqua exercise instead of lap swimming (which is why I joined there), but then kicked me out of the lane I was using, which was supposed to be set aside for aqua exercise for that time period, just because some spoiled, narcissistic lap swimmer didn't want to wait for a lane to open or to share a lane with another lap swimmer. I was using that lane! Someone else was in the other lane, water walking. Those two lanes were supposed to be for non-lap swimming aqua exercise, most of which is done by seniors or people with disabilities. I am both of those. I was treated like I was less important than the lap swimmer though I pay the same amount in membership dues/fees. This is discrimination and hypocrisy. It is also NOT reflective of the Christian values they claim to be all about. Either enforce the aqua exercise time/lanes you advertise on the website, or be honest about your discrimination of the seniors/disabled people who can't lap swim but still want to use the pool for exercise. There would probably be more of us if we were treated fairly.
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Opening Hours
| Sunday | 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Monday | 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Thursday | 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Friday | 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Saturday | 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
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