Optimist Aquatic Center

NOT KID FRIENDLY!!! The life guard on duty had an issue with me and my children the minute we stepped into the pool. 1st she didn't like how close my daughter was to the stairs when she was jumping into the pool. So we moved to the middle of the pool so she can slowly jump in. 2nd. She didn't like how my daughter was jumping into the pool. Her face was too close to the water when she was jumping in. So I just told her not to jump in any more. 3rd. She had a issue with my daughter not having a life jacket on. "Saying if she can't swim she needs to have a jacket on". She didn't let my daughter get off the stairs before blowing the whistle at her. She had swimming lessons at this exact pool! She is 4ft tall and the pool is 3'6 she can touch the bottom without a life jacket!! I thought as a Raleigh native and resident me and my children could swim at any Raleigh park and rec pools but not this one!! We couldn't do anything without getting into trouble. We normally go to Buffalo pool but it's closed. We have gone to Buffalo many times without any issues with life jackets or jumping into the pool. My daughter had an early release from school and we normally hit the pool on these days because they are less crowded. But I guess we can't go to this one. It's only for adults and seniors. No where on there rule states a child can't not swim without a life jacket! A waste of money! I Though an hour of pool time with my kids would be a nice treat for them. Didn't realize we would get into so much trouble and only be there for less than 30 minutes!!

Summer schedule with all day long lanes makes this pool EVEN BETTER, take advantage from this great opportunity and work out! Fitting room is remodeling and closed but the brand new mobile restrooms are just cleaner than the old fitting room, what can you complain? I do believe they are closed on Sunday for the summer, so keep an eye on that.

Nice, large pool, well lit, warm-but-not-too-warm water, and friendly staff. All of which you will get to enjoy while sitting on the deck desperately hoping for a lane because the swim teams have taken up 90+% of the pool. Even on snow days when the roads are too dangerous for kids to be in school. Are you an adult swimmer who has bought a pass and paid tens of thousands of dollars in city taxes over the years? Raleigh doesn't care about you, swim teams get priority.

Love this place. I am a woman, and I get to swim in my own lane. Wow, I love it. No men swimming in my lane and being inappropriate with me. Unlike other pool. And you have lifeguards. Thank you.

Price was reasonable, parking ample, staff was nice and water temp was good. The place was under construction during my visit so I entered via a side door and did not see any locker rooms or other parts of the facility.