Celes King III Aquatic Center

“Pretty awesome see cool thangs in the hood these days well its definitely getting gentrified but me and my kids climbed the tower they even got weight machines now. Hopefully they don't take it down”

“The team here is amazing. The locker room attendant Emily is awesome, she greets everyone with a smile and is very professional. She remembers everyone's name. She's wonderful ❤️”

“Very unprofessional supervisor experience. I went to ask about the hours listed on the brochure, and the supervisor, Elizabeth, spoke to me in a hostile and antagonistic tone. As an autistic person, I am soft spoken, and being in public is already stressful. I frequently use recreational parks and the community pool, and I really rely on these services. The way she responded made me feel uncomfortable and unsafe. She repeatedly said things like, “we don’t do reservations,” “we can’t kick people out of the pool for you,” and referenced “special treatment” in a way that felt insulting and unnecessary. I want to clarify that I was not asking for special treatment. A class had just started, so we were told to leave the deep end of the pool (I had only just gotten there) , and all three lanes were already taken (three people in the first, two in the second, and three in the third). One of the swimmers in the second lane was doing butterfly stroke, which took up most of the lane. Since I had just arrived and couldn’t swim, I simply asked if it would be possible to receive a voucher so I could go home. When she said no, I accepted it without issue and only asked if I could take a picture of the brochure. Her comments weren’t reflective of what was actually happening, but seemed designed to get under my skin and push me into an argument. She was needlessly aggressive and confrontational. I had to ask her to stop speaking to me the way she was and remind her that I was only asking a simple question about hours. It was disheartening and stressful, especially since many people with disabilities rely on community spaces like this. Staff should be trained to handle public interactions respectfully and calmly. It’s unfortunate that what should be an inclusive, supportive environment at Celes Aquatic Center instead left me feeling unwelcome, stressed, and on the verge of tears.”

“My children and I love this pool because it’s indoors and we come here often but I had a really discouraging experience at the pool on Thursday, February 5 around 4:20 p.m. When I arrived with my two children, admission totaled $6. I was told cards aren’t accepted, and although I had the money, I only had a $100 bill and $4 in smaller cash. I was short $2 for my kids and had to scramble for literal pennies while my children were visibly upset. The front desk attendant (an older woman working at the time) showed no compassion or customer service during what was already a stressful moment. We were nearly turned away, not because I didn’t have the money, but because I didn’t have the exact amount. I eventually managed to come up with it, but it was embarrassing and unnecessary. I understand policies, and I wasn’t asking for anything free. However, a little empathy, especially over one dollar, would have gone a long way. It also made me think about how easily a family in a tougher financial situation could be completely turned away. I regularly support this facility and have enrolled my children in classes here, which made this interaction especially disappointing. If the pool is cash-only, there should also be adequate change available throughout the day. I hope this feedback helps improve front desk interactions so other families don’t leave feeling embarrassed or discouraged like we did.”