My sister is new to the area and has joined East Bank Club where her fiancé has belonged for years. He says one of the reasons he thinks it will be good is going to the pool this summer with my 7-year-old niece. Then she heard some other mom say that EBC is actually not all that family friendly. She would prefer a neighborhood gym closer to her home in Lincoln Park, but if the pool will be a good place to go this summer then she'll stick with it. Let me know what you think, good or bad.
It is a great facility, clean and maintained very well. It is pricey for kids to go there for the day and mainly, younger kids are in the kids pool. Kids are not allowed near the adult pool and they do have kid hours. Plus, it is an ok place for kids on the weekends, members will get there early and stake their claim and they serve drinks, which can be "quite a show" on the weekends. Try it out once, you have nothing to lose.
My husband used to belong to Lakeshore Athletic Club on Fullerton and used to say how kid friendly it was. They actually just sent us a flyer the other day advertising their kid-friendly activities. I remember seeing they have a Friday night child-swim with a movie. If my memory serves me right, it was $25 per child.
Hi K.,
I have heard that East bank is more for adults. I was a member at Lakeshore Athletic club and this was a good choice for my family. They have tennis for kids and lots of other classes and a pool . Another good choice is the YMCA Lakeview. They have family swim an indoor pool which is great year round. They also sponsor family nights on fridays and they have a great summer camp as well as after school programs. Most classes are free for members and they even have a "family" locker just off the pool area. Its not fancy but its fun.
I was a member when I worked in the city. Our company sponsored a program that allowed discounted memberships. I didn't get the feeling it was kid friendly.
It has great equipment and a lovely pool a bit too upscalef for me. People workout in makeup and designer outfits.
But they do have a kids swim I think its ages 6 to 9. I would go local, that's my opinion.
