Providence Recreation Center

It’s kind of a bummer to give this facility only two stars after almost two years, because it has a lot going for it! All I come here for is the swimming (I DID try the treadmills and ellipticals, but cramped and not really the focus here, clearly). The pool is huge! The price is great, passes or year-​long memberships, and the staff is really friendly and helpful. The women’s locker room is disgusting, seriously — the showers are a train wreck, and do not forget your flip flops if you’re going to walk around.
The problem is that of any county/​public pool, I think. If you are an early morning person, or you can sneak there on your lunch hour, you are golden (except in summer, when you have to dodge summer camp). But if you need to come after work, oh boy. In the Fall, the kids’ swim teams start at 4pm (and they start hovering over your lane at 3:45). Earlier in the winter. They don’t go too late, but the problem is that they are there (and taking up most or all lap lanes) in the wheel house of a lot of folks coming right after work, and then the backlog of everyone who couldn’t get in the pool while waiting. :) Weekends are a total cluster of open swim, diving craziness, and lessons. Their Power Hour idea is awesome — all lap lanes, but it’s 9−10pm on a weeknight. Which, that’s great, but way too late for a lot of people to work out on a work night.
The reality is that the pool doesn’t really exist just to support paying adults, it’s there for the community — the large part being the swim teams. Which is awesome for the kids, but no so much for adults who want to swim (and maybe even work out). I really enjoyed it until my first shell shock with swim teams last fall, and in year 2 of trying and failing to get around the time constraints of the other programs, I’m finally moving on to a private gym with a pool… which is a bummer, because this is a much bigger, nicer pool! So verdict, if you can overlook the filthy locker rooms, and you don’t want to do laps at 5 – 5:30pm on weekdays, or weekends, you will like it… I did, when I could swim at lunch. :)

This facility is several steps below other FF County recreation centers – cramped, unappealing, cardio/​weight room has barely enough space for one person to do mat or free weight work. Staff is very nice, however.

As far as location, for me this is RECenter by far the most convenient of the Fairfax County facilities. Over the summer, we tried a few summer camps for kids here. The programs were pretty good and prices were ok. The camp counselors were nice and very good with the youngers. I liked the pool — there was always room to swim even when they had classes in the pool. The place is well kept and the staff/​volunteers at the front desk were nice. The first time you may have trouble finding it since it is offset from the road and has nice tree coverings.
Providence RECenter’s facilities include a heated, indoor 25 meter pool with 2 spas, saunas, shower and locker rooms, 3 racquetball and wallyball courts and a Fitness Center featuring a FitLinxx circuit, more than 20 cardiovascular machines, and a Pilates studio. There is an arts and crafts room, dance room and several multipurpose rooms where classes are held. These rooms are also available for party and meeting rental.

I come here regularly to swim but don’t much use any of their other resources. Prices are reasonable for drop-​in at $ 8 for FFX County Residents but a bit pricey for memberships unless you’re going fairly regularly.
I’m still new to swimming so my only point of reference in observing the pool is to compare it to the pool at Washington-​Lee Highschool in Arlington. This pool is just as spacious and well lit. The locker room is generally kept clean which is generally a step up over W-​L.
I love the pool because there are very few people swimming laps in here. They pack in a lot of classes and there are plenty of kids running around but they stay well away from the lap lanes. At W-​L you often have to share lanes with up to 3 other people while here you can have a lane to yourself for well over and hour which makes the swim a lot less hectic.

I love this place. The price is very reasonable. The staff are super nice and friendly.
The classes are great. The gym is decent and the pool is amazing.
Overall a great combination.

I like that this is only half an hour from DC. I like that Providence has different snack machines and frozen treats by the front desk for sale. I’m glad that they also have a sauna. Unlike Audrey Moore Rec Center that Kruella D. mentioned I also like that Providence has hot tubs and an area called a «beach» for younger kids.
Providence can improve in their heating or insulation of the locker room. There aren’t double doors so whenever people enter the locker room you are feeling the air conditioning from outside the locker room and not feeling the warmer air from inside the pool area.
I know a couple of people who have applied here. I’ve been told that Providence has a serious lifeguard training program. Not serious about water fights but legitimately capable of saving people. I’ve been here on a couple occasions when lifeguards were being trained. The life guards were drilled over and over again with a dummy. The dummy was thrown to the bottom of the pool and the lifeguard had to swim to the bottom to retrieve the dummy.
Costs for 2 adults and 2 kids for the family rate is only $ 15.90 which I think is totally worth it.
It’s too bad that T L. didn’t have a good experience.

I use to go there regularly to go swim, however, after today’s experience I do not plan on going back. As I was getting out of the pool I noticed a couple of the lifeguards were having a water fight with the hose. When I got to my stuff, I found it dripping wet. Needless to say I was beyond upset and will not be going back to this particular recreation center. Lifeguards who are responsible for people’s well being should be mature enough to not have water fights while at work.

2 stars — in comparison to the other Fairfax County Rec Centers I’ve been to, Oak Marr and Audrey Moore, it’s definitely on the meh side. My kids go to swim lessons there weekly when the classes aren’t available or are full at Oak Marr. The thing that strikes me every time is that it seems dirty. I know it’s a rec center, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be clean. There is always hair on the pool deck. I know that’s going to happen occasionally, but every week both in the beach area and the lap swim area? The life guards regularly hose the pool deck off and it all goes back into the pool! I swim regularly at Oak Marr — have yet to have a creepy hairball experience there and I mean, I swim there regularly.
Pros: Convenient location right off of Rt. 50 and I-​495, ample, well lit parking lot, very friendly staff, usually at least 2 — 3 lifeguards at a time.
Cons: Much smaller in comparison to other area rec centers — which means limited lap lanes, smaller «beach» area for the kids and when there are lessons or other classes, it’s difficult to find space in the pool. It feels dirty — the creepy hairballs, but I also think that the size itself contributes to the dirty feeling — possibly due to the high usage of a smaller facility.
In all fairness, my rating is primarily based on the aquatic facilities, locker rooms and lobby impressions. I have not used the weight equipment or the classes.
For the same price — $ 7 per visit or $ 65 per month (single pass) — I can go to a more comfortable, better equipped and more spacious facility.

The only reason I don’t give it 5 stars is b/​c I am comparing it to Audrey Moore Rec Center in Annandale/​springfield which is spectacular! But Providence is very good, it’s just smaller than Audrey Moore and offers less XYO classes. XYO classes are like «drop in» classes that you can take for free if you have a membership and for $ 6.18 if you don’t have a membership, but are a FX County resident. They range from cycling classes to yoga and meditation and bootcamps. I love them!
Providence has a pool, raquetball courts and a gym with weights, treadmills and ellipticals. The machines can get crowded if you go at peaks times during the week. I have only had to wait a few times, but any wait time at all is annoying when it’s a week day and you are a stressed-​out, NoVA resident with 2 dogs and a full time job.
It’s a casual, family atmosphere and the staff is nice. Overall, the facility and equipment is great. They offer a range of registered classes from pilates to yoga to zumba.
Providence is a bit pricey compared to a normal gym. I think it’s $ 55 or $ 65 a month. Of coruse, you get a pool and other amenities you would not get at Gold’s gym. Also, at Providence they don’t make you sign a contract or a membership fee. You can also get «passes» instead of buying membership month to month. It’s the county, so they are not trying to pull one over on you.

A great location to play raquetball, swim, bring the kids and get a work out all the same time. Being a fairfax county resident makes it cheaper to go. Limited hours for weekends and winter season though.

Swimming pool (including a kiddie area, and diving board), gym, racquetball for reasonable fees. It’s been a while since I’ve been there, though.