Reviews of Great Neck Recreation Center (Park)

Ted Morse

Equipment kept in great shape, staff is friendly and helpful to everybody, regardless of race or physical condition. Bend-over-backwards friendly and helpful. I've worked out here 25-plus years with hundreds of residents of all races, and have never heard a complaint by any other patron, regardless of color, and have never seen any employee show any negative attitude. Rules are enforced. Just because you don't like following them doesn't make the enforcers racist.

Karina Krzyszczak

This center is clean and bright. My daughter takes classes here and she loves it. The instructors are patient and kind with the children. The staff at the front desk is always very informative and friendly.

Dan Dorrian

Best of the Virginia Beach Recreation Centers. The pool is not usually crowded (except during Camp times), and they have good staff.

Thats Bananas

Staff is very helpful and friendly. It's always clean and the equipment is is in top shape and modern. The weight room has awful etiquette though. The worst I've experienced in VB in the 10 years I've been here. A ton of gapers sitting on equipment between sets. Very lame!

Michelle Grandi

Love everything about this recreation center. Great location, great friendly staff.. very clean lots to do.

Curious Angel and Bella Adventures

If I can give this center zero stars I would. This facility is a racist facility. The staff stared at me and my family which we are Hispanic we went to the pool side and the staff stood in the booth talking about my family and one guy came out (he had on red shirt and tight black pants and red hair he was a total douche) and complained about anything he could find. My children was upset and so was I. I hope this place closes down. The staff need to learn how to treat all people from different races the same and not discriminate because a person is hispanic. Such losers and low lifes at this place. The two red headed douches are brothers and the old Lady are related racist a*$holes

Ross Woody

The set up of the weight room is nice. It is highly irritating when the staff of the facility pick and choose the rules they choose to enforce.

Rebecca Lodge

Blonde lady at the front desk needs retraining..here is what happened, my son's membership expired so I came in with him to renew it, everything was going great until AFTER my son paid with HIS bank card, NEVER once through the whole process did she ask to see any of our id's. So after my son paid and the receipt printed out she said "who is ?"we responded with "that is his dad" she then said that my son is not allowed to use that card, I said what do you mean he cant use his card and she said well you said it was his dad, I then replied with well yes his dad is that name as well as my son has the same name...she then says well the application says this name( my son goes by his middle name and after his last name it says II, standing for the 2nd) I said yes it does but if you would also look at the application after his last name it says the second, she said "well he still cant use that card in the future, hes already paid for so it doesn't matter" I replied with "yes it does matter because this is his card what if he needs to purchase something you wont allow him to use HIS own card" I then informed her that if she would have looked at his card it says the second II just like his application said...she said " you are good to go"...no thank you, kiss my butt NOTHING!!! I would have asked for a manager but I had a newborn baby with me and wanted to get her away from all the people...I work in customer service and was VERY disappointed in how my son and I were treated, clearly she needs to be trained that some boys are named after their fathers and therefore go by there middle names...perhaps check id's and applications before taking the money off the card...my son loves this rec center and we drive 20 minutes each way to go this one, but if customer service is this rude I will seriously think twice before dropping him off here anymore, because if he had a question or needed help with anything looks like he will get treated rudely because he goes by his middle name

Kimberly Cooper-Banzer

Unorganized, inconsiderate, rude staff! Go to Bow Creek or Kempsville rec centers! Better staff with better attitudes! Y’all get back WHAT y’all put out.

Dave Rudolf

I have been a member of GNRC for a number of years, mostly using the weights and machines in the gym. It's close enough that I can incorporate a good walk to and from the Rec Center as part of my workout. My experience there has always been very pleasant: great facility, great value, and friendly staff. Recently, while working out, one of the staff , Ms. DaNee White, the personal training supervisor, voluntarily helped me with one of the machines and offered further assistance with personal training which I gladly agreed to. This included a physical health assessment. Although in the the past, while in Florida, I have used personal training services, it can't compare with the personal and professional care I received from Ms. White. She worked with me to set short and long term goals, is genuinely interested in my health improvement, and has renewed my desire to work out regularly. A big thanks to Ms. White and GNRC!

Benjamin Kennedy

Raymond was excellent and helpful in setting up our rented room. I was misinformed on the details of my son's 2nd birthday party here two months ago, and left a bad review because I was upset at being told we had to pack up and leave the room we rented early...as I had thought at that time. I was wrong and now I know that Raymond was very helpful with making the party happen in the first place. I apologize to Raymond and his family and coworkers for thinking, and sharing, that he was anything but professional and doing his job.

Danielle Christian

The gym is nice, has any piece of equipment you would want. It can get busy but its not necessarily a bad thing, it can encourage you to do something different while you wait for the machine you want. Great price, $80 for a year.

Rosario Reyes

I enjoy the swim exercise class. The instructors are great and the pool is big that we have a lot of space to do the water exercises.

Charles Haley

Nice gym, when its not packed, usually go around 11am.

jimmy miller

Nice equipment and staff. Like any gym there are times when it's busy but you learn the times not to go.

Wei Lin

Love it Staff are nice swimming teachers are patient go there you'll learn so fast :) and there are many more things to try out and there's a play room too :) LOVE THE PLACE

Karen DIXON

I have always found the center to be clean and the staff helpful. For those of you who have not, ask for the manager and clear the air.

Tony Zontini

Awesome value, basic membership is very reasonable them you have an a la carte opportunity to sign up for other programs. The people are nice and they keep the equipment maintained and the facility clean. Can't beat it!!!

Alice Monroney

Lucky we have this great facility.

Won Y. Song

Would it be better if they could be more faster updating hours on a bad weather day. Always wait until the last moment to announce that they are closed. even if i call them they still cant give me the certain information. One time, i had to travel all the way to the rec center only to find out that they are closed early.

B Robinson

I joined around a year ago. They need to address equipment availability. All ellipticals and treadmills are taken the last few times I’ve tried to get in. You can’t tell how soon one might be freed up. Another wasted trip even if I did check the busy status on here.

sbby77 s

I don't even want to come here anymore. What kind of community center allows a male patron to aggressively shout at female patron and doesn't ask him to leave??

Infernos Edge

So my local Rec Center decided to do a "throwback" theme for the month of July to celebrate "parks and rec" month. On their advertisement board, they were trying to celebrate Virginia Beach's Past......Only one problem...they are celebrating segregation. All the pictures they used are from 1910-1940's and show segregation, celebrating a time when Virginia Beach had two beaches...one for whites and the other for blacks. 7 of the 8 photos are of whites only on a "whites only" beach, and the 8th photo shows only blacks on a "blacks only beach". Segregation is not something we should be celebrating, throwback or not.Also considering that most of the pictures are of white people, its a insult on two different levels. I called Great Neck and the lady at the desk did not know what to do so she transferred me to the pool office, where some guy named Billy, totally gaffed me off, and didn't even take my complaint seriously. (He has some racial tendencies no doubt). This is a prime example of how ignorance can perpetuate racism and hostile environments. Considering that the Area of Great Neck is historically racist, it would make sense that some of the local racist made it into our city government. Well Done Great Neck. Well Done! I am sure the Building Director Pam would be proud. Who ever made this advertising board has some subconscious racial issues he/she needs to take care of.

Nemanja Belos

Great place,great staff

Mars Reyna

The staff are always pleasant, the facility is consistently clean, and the equipment is up-to-date! My only complaint is that they are by far the strictest in the city when it comes to putting belongings in a locker. I went into the basketball court and planned on shedding my jacket, then sweatpants in the five minutes it would take me to warm up, then put both items in a locker. No sooner had I placed my jacket by the wall alongside a gallery of cell phones, water bottles, and head phones than a staff member told me to put it in a locker. Today, I went to change out of my work out clothes while my friend finished his work out. After I changed, I walked into the gym to give him his shirt and jacket (since our locker was now left unlocked--I wasn't about to spend another quarter to re-lock it for two more minutes) and wait for him to finish his last set before we left. I put my bag on the ground in the corner, very much out of the way, and stood by it to wait. Sure enough, a staff member told me to put my things in a locker. My friend decided to just skip out on his last set and we just left. It's one thing if someone leaves a bag laying there for 20 minutes, but quite another if you're only going to be a couple minutes AND you're standing by your belongings.

Winston Hensley

I thoroughly enjoy going to the rec center, especially since they expanded the weight room. The only complaint is that of the other patrons' etiquette in wiping down the machines. Two years ago I got a-hold of "scabies" and am certain it was from the machines. Now I wipe the machine down before and after using them, no problems since.

Susie John

Great place to work out. Can't beat the membership fee!

Vincent Jorgensen

One squat rack, 2 flat bench presses. For $104 a year though, it’s not horrible, but you get what you pay for.

Ben Waterbury

My only complaint is the weight room etiquette from other gym goers. Other than that this place is well worth the price and has enough equipment and facilities to get a good workout in.

Sandra Harper

Nice but needs an update

Ivy Edwards

Amazing

Mary Sutterluety

I have been pleasantly surprised at the swim classes offered at Great Neck. I enrolled my very water-timid daughter there, and she had thrived--and I have the aquatic staff to thank for that! They have been so patient with her. She improved greatly in the two weeks since she began. I plan on enrolling her again in the future. Thank you, GNRC!

Hello World

Called to ask for website to check out what all they offer. The man who answered the phone was worried if I lived in Virginia beach or not. He kept implying well if you live in Virginia beach. He acted like African Americans don't live or go to recreation centers! Waste of money and time if your not one of them! Ok, I had to come back after reading the other comments! I knew I was right and the guy acted like , " Oh I'm not a racist." Yeah right!! So Hispanics get treated bad just like us African Americans!

Joe Smith

This is one of the best benefits of residing in Virginia Beach. The Great Neck Recreation Center is always immaculately clean and well maintained. The staff does a great job, they are friendly and helpful. The treadmills have all been recently replaced and now have individual televisions. I love the place. At $86.00 per year-including a pool- the Great Neck Recreation Center is a great value.

Soda

This place is always crowded man can't even find workout machines.

Edy Escobar

Very nice place for working out and playing some sports...to bad the manager is NOT doing its job right and making the right decisions.. i hope there is someone SUPERIOR looking after them. I never thought I would say this but it seems to me that they are beimg racist with me, i am not the only one that says it if you go the their website.. hope someone superior get in touch with me.

Kenn M.

The little girl in the highchair is rude.

Kyle Watts

To all, This place is good because it has lots to offer from recreational sports to include basketball, indoor soccer, racquet ball, volleyball, water polo, badminton, ping pong, and more. Also, it's located in a nice residential area with a park and lake adjacent to it. The only downsides is that during baseball games across the street parking is hard to find sometimes because baseball patrons like to park in the recreation center parking lot because the base ball field parking fills up fast. The other Debbie downer is there are a lot of high school kids from the local schooled called Cox, literally right next to the rec center, so a lot of the gym patrons are unfortunately immature teens who do immature things like hold up gym equipment, talk waaayyy to loud, and have immature and annoying teenie boppie conversations that can be heard by all... Most teens aren't that bad, just the occasional few... Nothing against teens, we've all been one... The price point is great, being around $12 a month. The only gym that competes with there price is Planet Fitness which is open 24/7 but doesn't have swimming pools, basketball courts, and rec leagues to name a few. Much success and happiness, Kyle

Edward Anton

Fantastic facility.

Kiara cassagne

If you want to go to a place to spend time with your family like a pool or basketball and you are spanish this is NOT the place for you. Me and my family members decided we wanted to go to a pool and this place seemed good at first but then we got there and were so excited to be there but they didn't allow my family to get into the pool for the weirdest reasons making up excuses so they dont get it. They also talk behind your backs and stare at you as if your some sort of alien. It is a disgrace and it is disgusting how they treat people. They truly do not like people who are spanish and they will treat you like crap if you aren't "one of them".

Yasser Chouirita

Best gym

Glenn Hart

Solitaire on treadmills that have lots of room and storage for the iPhone,, water bottle, car keys, towel, wallet, etc... Great welcoming attitude by staff. Feels comfortable when you working out. Beautiful grounds, clean facilities, that are well maintained. Lots of treadmills which are very popular. Has many treadmills with 1 hour or unlimited time limits, this is very good for those that can't run but want to fast walk for a longer time. Knees just can't handle the high impact and still want to be on my feet. Pool is warm in the winter and cool but not cold in the summer. With the exception of big sporting events there is normally plenty of parking. Cheap price compared to YMCA or what you get with a gym membership. Approximately $100/yr for normal family member, family of 4, ~$392. Reasonably spread out throughout Va Beach. I love them.