Saxon Woods Pool

For the past 6 years this review would have been 5 stars and positive. My family loves enjoying fun in the sun here and we have lots of great memories. My family still comes here maybe out of convenience or maybe turning a blind eye. Not such a fan anymore. But this happened to our family this week: My sister in law, recently lost 50 pounds and way more comfortable in the sun than before so her pastiness has been long gone and now she doesn’t look like her ID anymore. And was turned away because she left her purse in my mother in-​laws car. Was told she could pay $ 15 to be let in. She said she’d wait for her mother to return with her belongings. So mom turns around gets off the hw returns to the pool and it gets sorted out. Sort of, the kid at the window must not have realized what she was trying to say and still charged her as a guest at the time of day it was a $ 1 difference she would prefer to save herself the frustration. A total 45 minute ordeal. Shit happens. The kicker wasn’t the ordeal it self, you can chalk it up to the kid doing his job. What happened while she waited for her mother was maddening. A man (Caucasian) walks up to the same window, no ID, no park pass, not even in swimming gear says my family is inside I just want to pick them up. Again, No Westchester ID, no park pass no attempt to show ID. They give him a little hassle. They asked him to call his family to come to the door but he said no one is picking up. So no family at the door, no Id no park pass and they let him in. And he gets in at a park pass guest rate not even the $ 15 min park residence rate he was offering my SIL. Smh. We’re a mix of Colombian, Cuban, Italian and Puerto Rican and although we’re pretty pasty in the non summer months we melaninate up pretty quickly in the sun. And because we took our park passes on the first day of the summer over a year ago and may not look like our park passes anymore, because people change we with our park passes get denied but some one without a park pass or any form of ID got let in. The young man who denied her entrance continues to harass her anytime he works the line, telling his co-​workers to check the picture and the ID. Now reluctantly she needs to bring her ID and they still question it. Especially when he’s at the door. Anytime she sees him she knows she needs to have ID on her even if he isn’t at the register. And they are supposed to be representing NY parks? SMH even at a young age this kid knows his power. Racism is real and it isn’t a person it’s a system. Enjoy the pool today though!

I cannot say anything about weekends because I work retail and I am usually working but, I can honestly say that it has always been a pleasure to go to this pool. Everything is well organized from the lifeguards, to the concession stand all the way to the the alcohol checkpoint. It’s been mine and my family’s go to pool for about 10 yrs. must say that there’s not one bad thing to say about it.

This is my local pool. We come here all the time.
Is it fancy? No but its a big pool. There is something for everyone. There is deep water, shallow water, and a spray park area for children under a certain height. My only complaints on weekdays (because I DONT GO ON THE WEEKENDS) is the camps. The camps come in and section off big areas and tell other kids to get out of the area. They are really great areas too bc they are about shoulder height on a young child.
Like I said I don’t go on the weekends bc i refuse to shuttle bus. Also, once the parking lot is full that means the place is ridiculously packed. And then there wont be a place to swim or sit. People are pretty relaxed and family oriented but on the weekends it has a different vibe. I like this place better than wilson waves and even better than the lazy river because you can see your children and it’s just a huge pool for swimming and a grassy areas for sitting.
Food is also pretty good and provided by powell’s catering.

The reason for the one star is their new smoking policy — smoking now allowed poolside in a designated area. Well and good in theory but when the pool is packed, you have no choice for space — and it gets pretty packed pretty much every weekend. You will find yourself downwind of the smoking area. Smokers make a choice. Children, asthmatics, elderly, people with allergies and other respiratory issues — not so much. I guess the science behind second hand smoke doesn’t trump smokers’ convenience. Too bad because we really liked this pool.

I won’t repeat the previous reviews which are spot on. I will add that even though the pool and parking get mad crowded on the weekends, they do a great job with the shuttling, and the kids will have a great time. The concession is convenient with typical selection and prices you would expect. There are many lifeguards stationed around the perimeter who keep a very close and constant eye, giving warnings that are aimed at keeping everyone safe, which I appreciate. These are what I’ve noticed so far:
— no toys, floaties, anything allowed in the pool except for US coast guard approved lifejackets
— sunglasses, goggles are ok
— coolers cannot exceed 12″ but other than that, I see people bring in strollers, beach chairs, blankets, umbrellas

I went on a Sunday, and I got there pretty late around 2:30, the lot was full and they were directing people to park elsewhere, but when I pulled up they actually decided to let a few cars in. So luckily I didnt have to take the shuttle, which would have been inconvenient. I dont have a season pass yet, so I paid the $ 15 to get in, but you can get a pass made there before 4pm and then its much cheaper to get in. They only accept cash. It was packed, but there was plenty of shaded and non shaded spaces available to lie down. The concession stand has a decent selection, typical for a pool — chicken fingers and fries were $ 7 and i got a large foutain soda with extra ice. It didnt take too long to get my food. The pool and surrounding area are kept clean. Even the bathrooms were clean. There were a lot of children and a spash park area and also some lanes designated for laps. So I enjoyed my day there, I would come back, and its so much cheaper then joining a private pool so its absolutely worth it.

During the hot summer months, this place sports a long line up to an hour before they open. Get there early because even during the week, if you arrive too late, you’ll be stuck parking in the executive building parking lots down the road and forced to take a shuttle bus to the pool. A packed shuttle bus.
They open at 11 am during the week so make sure to get there by 10:30, the latest. The pool is huge so even when it IS packed, you don’t feel it because of all the space. They have lap lanes and a kiddie area also. Their food can be pricey, so we always bring sandwiches, fruit and waters with us whenever we go. Just make sure that if you do choose to go that route, your cooler is no bigger than a 12 inch cube. They WILL check the size and force you to leave it outside.
If you forgot to renew your park pass, don’t fret, because you can always renew at all the Westchester pools.

Well, it’s a pool and it’s full of water, so that’s a plus. But it’s pretty crowded and parking is horrendous especially on the weekend. I guess it goes without saying, but if you can afford a private club you’re far better off.