Ashland Recreational Center

I have a child in swim lessons at this facility and would not recommend it to anyone! When you enter the swimming facility the front desk lady is very friendly and is always in a great mood. Then you go to the locker rooms where there are ants on the sinks and lockers. Rarely can you find a shower that gets warm (in the family changing room) the only one that does there is always an old lady in there that never locks the door! The swim teacher is so nice but, often seems distracted. The older lady working here, Jolin, is so rude! Is often yelling at people about not wearing street shoes but, yet allows numerous other people to wear theirs! I feel horrible for the good people working here but, honestly not a good place to go what so ever! Save yourself the trip and find a different place!

Not going back. Yes, this is one of the newer pools in the Denver rec system but the swimmers are not worth the two slides. We went during one of the «not so busy» times, per the lifeguard, and the place was mobbed. Families that attend this pool use it as daycare, childcare and, worst, hygiene care. The «families with small children» locker room has two changing/​bathroom/​shower rooms. That would work if the vast number of Tweens with body weight issues didn’t use it for «privacy» bathing, changing and, apparently, hair styling (!!!). We waited for over 45 minutes for one to open up before just taking our wet kiddos home in the car. Thankfully we arrived in swimsuits or the getting in the pool part of the day never would have happened. My husband took a walk through the men’s locker room to see if he could shower our son in there and the look on his face with the resounding,“NO!” was enough for me.
I did tell the manager on duty how the teenagers were mobbing in the family locker room not allowing the families with toddlers to use it and her response was, «Again?! OK, I’ll have the lifeguards shoo them out at shift change.» Hmmmmm… Not happening. Obviously.
Our kids liked the slides but our seven year old had to ask the lifeguard to remind the «big kids» not to shove on the stairs in line. Again — WTH?! We left after I went over to ask her what that was all about.
Of the two lifeguards, one was yelling at the kids constantly for not really doing anything wrong (and doing that crappy, extra yelling at the ones for whom English was a second language — not cool). The other lifeguard looked physically incapable of saving anything, except maybe his beer. So if you go, watch your own kiddos like a hawk.

The review is for the pool only and mainly on the cleanest of the pool.
The pool is smaller than most. It is a typical 25m long pool with three lap swim lanes. I have only had to circular swim once so it is not too crowded. However, I try to avoid going during peak times.
One thing that is great about the pool is it is clear and clean which is unlike a few other Denver rec center pools. Maybe more swimmers shower before getting in.

On my 5^th session of an oil painting class with Daniel at this rec center, and I’m having a great time! I don’t understand why more people aren’t doing this class to be quite honest. Best thing I’ve done for myself in a long time.

This is the ultimate split personality recreation center in Denver. On the right side of the entrance is the actual recreation center: A somewhat decrepit looking and small space with often broken machines, no proper locker room and often non-​existent staff (I’ve been here three times and each time I could have gone in without scanning my card and nobody would have noticed.)
On the left side is the new swimming facility with a super-​nice staff that greets you when you arrive, large, well-​equipped lockers and a new full-​length pool kept at the perfect temperature. Though I do wish the pool had more lanes. Three lanes is pretty skimpy and they really did have room to add more if they wanted. I am not sure why they didn’t design it that way. Weird.
Anyway, not my favorite recreation center in Denver, but I’ll gladly use it if I am in the area. Not one I would specifically go out of my way to visit though.

When I was unemployed I was searching for a cheap alternative to joining a gym. The BF worked out here and suggested I come in and check it out. He swore it was never ever crowded and it wasn’t a problem to ever get on one of the two ellipticals they had.
WRONG! Every time I come here its crowded, between the hours of 3−6…its tiny, and only has 2 treadmills, 2 bikes, and 2 ellipticals. I almost always have to wait for a machine whether its cardio or weights. Very annoying, and since I am now employed again I’m going back to 24 hour fitness. I’d almost rather put up with the crowded 24 hour then come back here.
Although they have a gigantic pool that would be useful if I swam…