St. Paul Eastside YMCA shows 4.1 from 205 reviews, and its five written reviews, spanning October to November 2019, reveal a sharp split between one detailed, serious complaint about crowd control and organization, and multiple shorter, positive accounts of friendly staff and clean facilities.
A Serious Complaint About Crowd Control and Scheduling
A reviewer identified as paseey raises the most critical concerns here: "If I could give this a negative star I would. Worst YMCA/gym ever. No control over kids, a certain group of people there in the community shows no respect to others, the staff have no organizational skills, there's no proper schedule for each group utilizing the facility unless you pay a hefty fee on top of the expensive membership." I'd flag that pay-extra-for-scheduling detail directly, since it's a specific, concrete complaint about needing to pay above the standard membership fee just to secure a reliable time slot, not just a vague dissatisfaction with crowding.
A Detailed Account of Friendly Coaching and Fun Workouts
Janinel Wagnon's review offers a contrasting, positive account: "Staff and the owners are very nice! The coach are helpful and friendly. Fun workout most of the time. Awesome!" I'd note the "most of the time" qualifier directly, since it's a small but honest hedge suggesting a generally positive but not universally perfect experience, distinct from an unqualified rave review.
Additional Accounts of Cleanliness and Amenities
Anita Bellant's review describes friendly staff and instructors, plenty of free parking, and clean, modern restrooms. Katie Menke's review adds a brief, general statement of satisfaction with the amenities and staff at this specific location.
A Cautious Account From a New Member
Marc Silverman's review, from November 2019, offers a more tentative first impression: "Have only toured and joined up. Looks like a nice place to work out." I'd treat that as a useful, honest data point precisely because it's not yet a fully lived-in review, an initial positive impression rather than a verdict based on regular use.
What's Missing
Nothing here confirms whether the crowd-control and pay-extra-for-scheduling issues paseey described reflect an isolated bad experience or a persistent structural problem, since it's the only detailed critical account in this set. No review states standard membership pricing, only that paseey specifically found it expensive with additional fees required for reliable scheduling.
Who It's Not For
Anyone who needs a guaranteed, orderly schedule without paying extra fees on top of membership, given at least one detailed, specific complaint about needing to pay more just to secure reliable access to shared facility time. Anyone who needs current, up-to-date confirmation of conditions before joining, since every written review here is from October and November 2019.
875 Arcade St, St Paul, MN 55106, USA. The phone number is +1 651-771-8881, and the website is ymcamn.org.
FAQ
Is crowd control and scheduling well organized?
According to at least one reviewer specifically, no - she describes a lack of proper scheduling for different groups and needing to pay extra fees to secure reliable access.
Are the coaches and staff friendly?
Yes, according to multiple reviewers, who consistently describe helpful, friendly staff and coaches.
Is the facility clean?
Yes, according to at least one reviewer specifically, who describes clean, modern restrooms alongside ample free parking.
Is membership expensive?
According to at least one reviewer specifically, yes, with additional fees required on top of the base membership for reliable scheduling access.