Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center

I had to go to many different pools for swim and I have to say, Freedom is the best pool in VA. It’s cold, clean, and has depth variety. Basketball court is great but the gym (weightlifting) is a little small.

Students taking less than 12 credits (and GMU employees!) have to pay for entry now... As if we don't pay enough in campus fees to support facilities LIKE THE GYMS. What a slap in the face.

Most mornings the pool is not available, which is the entire reason I signed up for this gym. The hours are atrocious, 8 am opening on Saturday and 9 am opening on Sunday. Thankfully the strength room is usually empty (it seems others realize this gym is terrible too)

Some of the staff and lifeguards are great. The masters swim and coaches are great. The big issue is the swimming pool doesn’t cater or prioritize its members. A lot of members like myself come later in the evening after work to get some laps in and there’s always either a swim meet or huge classes and training sessions going on for youth and their coaches. I’ve had to turn away too many times after wasting the time to get there. There were a few times I waited until 9:00pm with only a half hour left to swim but the youth programs take their sweet time to free a lane. Not to mention a whole section of the deeper end that could be used is closed off. Every day the pool is also closed off from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Their swimming pool is the reason I even have the membership and if there’s never any availability then I’m considering cancelling the membership. It’s just not worth it. It is not an accommodating facility. They need to figure something out if they’re having staffing issues.

I went to swim with my family, and when I looked up at the second level window I saw 2 workers pointing and laughing at my 53 year old father swimming. I almost went and told the person at the front desk but I doubt they would’ve cared. Haven’t been back since.