About
The Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA, located at 40 W Northampton St, Wilkes-Barre, PA, is a community-focused organization offering a wide array of programs for all ages. It provides facilities and classes for fitness, group exercise, and swimming, alongside youth development initiatives such as child care and sports programs. The YMCA aims to foster healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility within the Greater Wyoming Valley community.
The Wilkes-Barre branch of the YMCA features two main pools: a 6-lane, 25-yard competition pool typically maintained at approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit (about 26.7 degrees Celsius), and a warm water leisure/therapy pool which is kept at approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit (about 32.2 degrees Celsius).
What are people saying (AI review summary)? The reviews for the YMCA present a mixed but largely negative outlook. Significant concerns were raised regarding the before and aftercare services, detailing aggressive staff behavior, a lack of accountability, and an alarming disregard for child safety during a missing child incident. Other major complaints include management's poor communication, inconsistent application of rules, and perceived discrimination against individuals engaging in non-traditional activities like dancing or singing. Facility maintenance issues were also highlighted, with slow locker room renovations and 'disgusting' bathrooms reeking of urine. Some reviewers also mentioned 'stuck-up' staff and college students monopolizing equipment. Conversely, some positive feedback noted generally friendly staff, clean facilities (contradicted by bathroom complaints), and wonderful amenities, with several individuals expressing a desire to rejoin after membership cancellations due to health.
Location
Gallery
Amenities
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Accessible Entrance
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Accessible Restroom
Reviews
Listing Reviews
September 22nd, 2025Toni Ibemsi
I am extremely disappointed and frustrated with the before and aftercare services at the YMCA. My experience with Ms. Kelly was totally unacceptable - she was aggressive and yelling at my niece and nephew in a public setting, which is completely uncalled for. When I tried to address the situation with my sister present (their mom) Ms. Kelly started being defensive and not taking accountability for her and her staff's actions. I asked for her supervisor's information and she began to scream at me and yell their emails while I proceeded to walk away from her with my niece. To make matters worse a few days before my niece went missing from her school, Ms. Ashley refused to help myself and the school locate her. Stating the drivers won't answer the phone, this is crazy. There needs to be blue tooth installed for these types of emergencies when the arise with children. The lack of urgency and concern for these children and a child's safety is alarming. Parents and families trust childcare facilities to keep their children safe and treat the with respect. This experience left me shaken and questioning whether or not this is a safe and supportive environment for kids.
April 28th, 2025Jason Josefowicz
I love the Y. Had to cancel my membership due to shoulder surgery. I would love to rejoin but the locker rooms are taking forever to get renovated. The only negative thing I would say is that all the college kids sit on their phones on the equipment and it hard to get done what I need to do.
July 24th, 2025Kaitlyn Cooper
Clean faculty friendly staff, wonderful amenities. Had to cancel membership due to some surgery and health issues. Will be rejoining.
March 10th, 2024Matthew John
I attended here for a few months recently and also when I was a kid. Considering its supposed to be a Christian establishment I was not treated in a Christian way, catholic sure, not Christian. The staff here can be nice, but are usually stuck up. It took 6 weeks to get one to realize I wasn't hitting on her and was just being nice, like I am with literally everyone. Unfortunately the management here is not properly integrated and there is an absolute failure regarding communication and authority to permit. One instance is use of facilities for non standard functions. If the courts are open and empty and you want to stretch or dance, and you receive approval from multiple staff, upon shift change that approval isn't worth a break and you will be reprimanded. It doesn't matter that you talk to them later with the staff who gave approval, you're still warned. I've even asked management and been approved to dance but then its revoked, because of the fact I was reprimanded for doing something I was allowed to. This being after stating that there was an issue previously and asking explicitly for an exception given the fact the facility wasn't in use and I wouldn't continue to dance if people arrived or had issue with it. Not only that but decorum overall is substandard. Rules held generally at YMCA in multiple states (NYC NY, ESVA VA, San Francisco CA) are selectively applied at this YMCA. Its very unusual. Look I'm not some stranger in a new town... My family has roots going back 8 Generations in this valley, one of the islands on the river was named after my moms side. A cousin of mine was Governor back in the day, multiple relative are prominent Doctors Lawyers and School Administrators. Although we might not be the largest clan, or the most well known.. we are definitely a middle of the pack group.. (frankly that speaks for something around here).. we know what to expect from the community and THIS YMCA seems only interested in catering to young children, Wilkes University students and retired dues paying men exclusively with the addition of 2 Muslim families and the occasional event. To have someone discriminate against me for dancing on an empty basketball court and lightly singing a few songs while jogging on the treadmill, its disappointing. They could have just said, certain facilities are only to be used for their assigned function, regardless of whether other functions can be held there. Instead they leave things up in the air and yoyo their preferences and willingness to be considerate and accommodating. They could have sign stating No singing or talking while on the treadmills (I'm SURE there still isn't, 14 months later). Instead, they fail to state their way of thinking and I believe they use the lack of instruction to discriminate against people who do not fit their express demographic interests. I'll end my review with the following: Judging someone for finding a place to pursue fitness, and expecting them to do things you havent even dictated within the rules is inconsiderate and a study in stress and failure to administrate your duties. Knowingly oppressing fitness enthusiast and their related activities just because they either seek to conduct themselves in a place those actions aren't normally held or appear different is wrong. Expressing being Christian practitioners and then being intolerant of your own gospel is just sad.
September 29th, 2024Brandi Muchler
Was there for a birthday party and while everything was fun, the bathrooms in your place needs cleaning. WE used 3 different ones between the party room and the pool and all 3 were absolutely disgusting and reeked of urine. 🤮
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Opening Hours
| Sunday | 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Monday | 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Thursday | 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Friday | 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Saturday | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
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