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Aquatic Centre at Hillcrest Park
Category: Active Life Swimming Pools Swimming Pools
4575 Clancy Loranger WayVancouver, BC V5Y 2M4
Neighbourhood: Riley Park
(604) 257-8680
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 am - 10 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
12 reviews for Aquatic Centre at Hillcrest Park
12 reviews in English
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Review from John G.
Vancouver, BC
4/14/2012
Of all the pools, in all the towns, in all the world (or at least the ones I've been to!)... I'd probably walk into this one first.
I go there regularly for fitness three times a week, participating in their deep water aquafit classes.
The space designated for DWF is excellent - large and deep. It certainly surpasses the area in the community pool this one replaced, the Percy Norman Pool (although I do have a warm spot for that pool, where I went for eight years.) The quality of the classes vary, depending on the instructor (not all instructors are created equal, after all) but I believe you can get value from any class - it's up to the participant to make the most of the class, but some instructors are better than others. The line-up changes fairly regularly, so you don't normally get stuck with the same instructors for long time periods.
My one comment about some instructors is, they rely too much on "swimming-type" routines. One of the reasons I quit swimming lengths was because of continuing shoulder problems; many people who chose aquafit do so because they cannot swim lengths. When I first started doing aquafit in 2002, this was not an issue; it's just in the past couple of years that "swimming" has crept into the routines.
A real plus: since moving over from PNP, they've added three additional DWF classes on M-W-F. They maintained the M-W 8-9 p.m. classes, but also added 12:45-1 p.m. classes on M-W-F, which really adds to the flexibility of scheduling fitness activities. I guess there were some Sunday morning classes, but I never even attempted to get up that early for them, so I can't speak to them.
Moving on from the programs, the facility is top-notch. There is an excellent steam room and a dry sauna, as well.
The hot tub is very spacious; however, the vast majority of the jets do not shoot out with enough pressure, in my opinion. The best jacuzzi jets I've been to at a public pool are at Bonsor, in Burnaby.
There is also a leisure pool and fully regulation sized pool for swimming lengths. The changing facilities - lockers, showers, bathroom facilities - are also all top-notch.
The staff is very friendly and helpful.
Overall, it's a great facility, whether you're looking for fitness or just some family fun. -
Review from Monica M.
3/27/2012
Always busy, but such a great space!! The kids pool is incredible and is probably only second to the Wave Pool at Richmond Riverport (in my humble opinion). Besides the crowds, my only complaint is the depth of the hot tub; I'm short (5'2") and I have to crouch to get my shoulders under the water when sitting.
There is free parking and it's a great location near Queen Elizabeth Park, Little Mountain baseball diamonds, and between Main St. and Cambie St. The #16 bus stops mere yards away from the entrance. -
Review from Siobhan B.
Vancouver, BC
4/14/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Bummed out. Did the big cross town trek and it's annual maintenance to April 29 :(
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Review from Evan D.
Vancouver, BC
4/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great facility. Not enough seating for parents watching kids lessons.
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Review from Scott W.
Vancouver, BC
10/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Awesome Pool! I would put the rating as "as good as it gets", but it is super crowded. I generally will be doing laps, and there is always space.. the kids pool however is crazy - but it is by far the best kids pool ever!
After your swim, you can go upstairs to the fitness center and do some biking or weights. But this place is definately the best because of the pool. -
Review from Mikaela s.
7/28/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Best gym pool in Vancouver. after living in the U.S. for so long I forgot how spoiled my fellow canadian comrades are with public pools and gym. I can pay 150 a month in California and the amenities don't even come close.
Remember it is a public pool so bring your flip, flops.
Their is the most amazing lazy river and that I could float for hours, great diving boards and platforms, huge lap pool and hot tub.
The gym overlooks Queen E. park which is nice and blissfull; it's small but clean. Over all no brainer 5 stars. -
Review from Rich E.
Updated - 8/27/2011
Allowing people to pre-book several cardio machines at a time!?!? The rules clearly states you cannot do this WTF? I hate having to enforce it myself but I'll do it if I have to..... unless you're an old goat.
C'mon staff, keep any eye on it or use the clipboard system and print the gym rules on the clipboard and tie it to the cardio machines.Listed in: Community Centres, Rinks and…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/5/2011
*Fitness Centre Review*
This is one of the few Olympic legacy facilities I had a chance to take… Read more »
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Review from Luke L.
3/23/2011 5 Check-ins Here
This is a top-notch facility; having spent some time at the other community centre (Creekside) constructed with the Olympics as it's impetus, it was a really pleasant surprise.
The fitness centre is well equipped with a practical layout, lots of benches and free weights, all the necessary machines, and a great view. there's plenty of cardio equipment and everything is spaced out nicely.
The pool is excellent with a very large hot tub, a children's area, diving, lanes, and a third area partitioned off for classes. I'm told that there is an outdoor pool as well but i did not see it my first visit. Furthermore, they offer swimming lessons for adults as well as children, which as an adult who unfortunately needs them, had until now been impossible to find.
The staff seemed friendly and knowledgeable, and the patrons a reflection of the neighbourhood, which is as it should be.
I will be going out of my way to attend swim lessons there, and to use the fitness centre also. I suspect many will do the same and before long the place will get over-crowded (a la Mount Pleasant) ... I'll keep you posted if it does, but in the 2.5 hours i was there today it was fine.Listed in: fitness
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Review from Rich B.
8/9/2010
Having watched this building grow and having visited it in its incarnation as an Olympic venue, our whole family was very excited to see it finally open. Our first opportunity to visit was after it had been open about a week and we were certainly not disappointed.
The main pool is a great facility with movable bulkheads separating out the lap area from the diving, with 1, 3 and 5m boards, and shallow ends. It has a huge indoor play pool for kids with a big lazy river and lots of fun sprays and splash toys to play with. The hot tub is pretty large too with plenty of space to sit and relax. The changing rooms are good too with plenty of cubicles in the family changing area - despite it being busy we didn't have to wait around for somewhere to change.
The one thing I'm not convinced about, though, is the outdoor pool area. It's shallow - although it does get up to 1m deep in places. It also has a few splash/spray installations. When we went, it was raining outside and whilst we had fun, it seems like it's a bit misconceived overall. As a splash park, there are better free splash parks to cool down in around the city. As a wading pool, then it's really a bit too deep in places for smaller children. But it's not deep enough realistically to replace an outdoor swimming pool - plus it has a very rough non-slip surface that, whilst super-safe for wading, gets very hard on the knees and elbows if you're an adult. It may well grow on me, but first impressions are that it's not really one thing or another. It's certainly no replacement for the wonderful old Mount Pleasant outdoor pool.
All in all, it's a great improvement on Percy Norman pool and I look forward to the rest of the centre coming opening up. -
Review from Gabby S.
Vancouver, BC
8/27/2010
I was happy to hear about this pool opening especially when the Downtown Aquatic centre is closed for maintenance...I also got a tan from swimming at the Kits pool 4 times!
This place is way too kid-friendly. Maybe I'm a bit jealous but the outdoor pool is pretty dedicated to them with all the jets, sprays and shallow water. A big portion of the indoor space is also dedicated to them although I see a lot of seniors enjoying the lazy river too. I just wish that they have more 50 m lanes in the fall.
About the lanes...people should try to respect the lanes and go with the flow. The other day, a girl and her mother were swimming in my lane, the medium lane. I was getting annoyed because not only were they moving slowly but they didn't allow others to pass. Usually, if I find that people are passing or attempting to pass, I'd (1) move to the slower lane or (2) let them go ahead of me when I reach the end. I knew the girl was uncomfortable but the mother was telling her to ignore the other swimmers and just keep going (with her trailing behind as a buffer). It's okay to go to a slow lane. I've done it many times as I fatigued in my laps. Let's be considerate! And no spitting!
Anyways, one time while the bulkheads were stuck, I decided to try the Aquafit (aerobics) and loved it. I've tried the morning, evenings and the deep aquafit. Morning ones have a lot of seniors but you can challenge yourself by jumping higher or pumping your arms more. I remembered that I got into it so much once that I almost collided into an old lady when we were "running" in a large circle.
The evening one also gets crowded. I've been to one and it was slighter harder but you could do whatever you want underwater...or above. Go at your own pace. I like to kill myself at these things. I'm the one with the red face.
The other night, I tried the deep water one which takes place, duh, in the diving pool. I love the waist floatation belts. Those are so cool. I find the evening regular shallow aquafit gets me more worked up with the jumping and pumping. I mean, with all the arm pumping and "running", you can only go so fast in deep water.
You don't need to know how to swim to do the regular aquafit because the floor is moved up so that the water only hits you at chest or waist level. It's great for me because I'm totally not coordinated. But waist up, no one can tell.
70- person hot tub: Because it's so large, it's not as easy to maintain the hot temperate. Sometimes, not all the jets are turned on.
There are ladies, families and men changing areas. One time, a lady was telling this mother who was getting her son to shower in the ladies area about the family area. She got really defensive.
First, there are only 6 showers in the ladies area and the change room is open. I'm not a prude but I'm already trying to be non-chalant about showing my skin amongst others who have the same anatomy that it's just one more thing to have boys around. I'm sure they feel awkward too. So please, please, take advantage of the family change areas with private change stalls.
Showers: 4 stalls with curtains and towel hooks on the outside (never noticed them until my last visit). Yay! That saves me the naked walk (with my bathing suit draped over my front) to the far wall of hooks.
Only do-able improvement: Perhaps they could add a small shelf in each shower stall so we could put our shampoos, etc. The soap dish doesn't do much. Maybe more hooks on the other empty wall.
Just like other public lockers, you get your 25 cents back.
Another consideration: Shower before entering pool. First, it's cleaner and second, if you saturate your bathing suit with water, the chlorine won't be able to penetrate and ruin your suit as quickly (so I've read). -
Review from Leon F.
Vancouver, BC
12/6/2010
Pretty good pool. Gets a bit busy but usually you have enough room. Has a sauna, steam room and a very big hot tub. Some of the kids water cannon toys can be used for water massage. Has 1, 3 and 5m diving boards that you usually don't have to wait for. Lockers seem to be secure and they give you your quarter back. The water has a touch of chlorine but the lifeguard said it was mostly cleaned using ultraviolet. The front desk cashier wasn't super friendly even though we mentioned we had never been before.
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Review from Bryan W.
Vancouver, BC
10/4/2010
This is probably the best indoor pool in Vancouver.This place get BUSY when you go there during peak hours.For those of you that don't know this was the curling rink during the olympics and was built for that.They have a gigantic hot tub where like 20 people can sit in there and still not overflow.They have a wavepool inside too.If you like to dive they have a medium high dive board and a really high dive board.Great if you like to jump from way up high. A great alternative to the downtown aquatic centre and watermania in richmond
