Community Centers and Public Libraries in Vancouver are like sidewalks... they're almost everywhere, they're cheap if not free to use, and they usually run a low profile.
But in short, they're awesome! Vancouver has THE BEST Community Centers and Libraries... period! (that's a scientific fact... check Wikipedia...)
Over the next few months, I'm gonna post a new Community Center or Library review every week, kind of like a wine review, or a vid review... something to look forwards to at the end of the day.
So, with that, I give you Community Center Review #1:
Mt. Pleasant Community Center (who didn't see this one coming?)
Located at the corner of Ontario and 16th Ave (3161 Ontario to be exact), Mt. Pleasant Community Center looks more like a school than anything else. It's compact, and has got more of a old school small town rec center feel... it's small, the staff are friendly, and the facilities are small but great.
Along with a reg sized gym, there's a preschool, raquette ball courts, a teen center, fitness center and of course, the outdoor pool.
The fitness center is small but it's got almost everything you need. Free weights, bikes, treadmills, universals etc... plus it's low on the thick necked peeps, so you won't feel like a dweeb bench pressing 45lbs or sweating on a stationary riding 3kms an hour... It's a prefect gym for trying to make a comeback...
The pool is exactly like every pool in any small town in the 70's... It's a total free for all (there are dedicated lanes for swimming...), but other than those lanes, it's dealer's choice... The low and high dive are fun for impromptu canonball contests (my ass is still sore...) The slide is fast and sketchy (also dealer's choice of where it'll fling you)
The pool is a microcosm of East Van... kids, families of every kind, big dudes and bikinis, old 50's bathing suits and see through speedos... It's all there!
Drop in's are around $5, and in the summer that gets you into the gym and pool, for the day... so that's pretty cheap, and well worth it...
Major draws-Outdoor pool with real diving boards, real community feel.
So check it, cause it's there for you to use! And you know what the old saying is... use it or lose it...
