New Orleans JCC - Uptown
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The New Orleans JCC Uptown offers a uniquely clean, well-maintained, and exceptionally friendly environment, particularly highlighted by its outstanding Aquatics Department. With both an Olympic-size outdoor pool and a fabulous indoor heated pool, it provides year-round swimming opportunities. Parents seeking a welcoming community center for their children's summer activities will appreciate the highly praised staff and broad range of 'opportunities' and 'classes' available, all within facilities that have been recently updated. The general atmosphere is inclusive, with staff described as 'super friendly and always helpful,' ensuring 'nobody is an outsider.'
Key Highlights
- ✓Aquatics Department is highly praised, with specific recognition for staff Kathleen, Greg, and lifeguards Violet and Josephine.
- ✓Features a fabulous indoor heated pool (slightly less than Olympic size) for year-round use and an outdoor Olympic size swimming pool.
- ✓Exceptional cleanliness and maintenance are frequently highlighted, described as 'super clean,' 'extremely well maintained,' and 'outstanding,' which is noted as rare for New Orleans.
- ✓Staff is consistently described as 'super friendly,' 'always helpful,' 'superior,' and 'welcoming,' fostering an inclusive atmosphere where 'all are welcome.'
- ✓Facilities are 'very nice' and 'recently updated,' including the indoor and outdoor pool areas and snack bar.
- ✓Management (Alison Marts) is responsive and efficient in addressing member requests.
- ✓Positive feedback for specific gym equipment like rowing machines and the 'well-endowed' cardio room.
- ✓A variety of 'wonderful classes' and 'outstanding opportunities' are available, suggesting diverse programming for children.
- ✓Health food automats and a small café are available on-site.
Standout Features
- ⭐Two excellent swimming pools: an Olympic-size outdoor pool and a fabulous indoor heated pool for year-round use, ideal for swim camps or general water activities.
- ⭐Consistently 'super clean' and 'extremely well maintained' facilities, a significant advantage for children's programs.
- ⭐A friendly, welcoming, and inclusive atmosphere with 'super friendly and always helpful' staff, beneficial for children adjusting to new environments.
- ⭐On-site health food automats and a small Café for convenient snack and drink options.
- ⭐Responsive management that addresses member feedback, indicating good operational oversight.
- ⭐Variety of 'classes' and 'opportunities' for diverse engagement.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Parents considering enrollment should inquire about the schedule and potential impact of third-party facility rentals on children's access to specific amenities, especially pools, during their camp attendance.
- →Be prepared for potentially difficult parking during peak seasons or busy times.
- →Leverage the highly praised Aquatics Department for children's swim lessons or water-based camp activities.
- →If your child plans to use gym facilities (e.g., older teens in sports camps), be aware of potential AC issues in the cardio room and cleanliness concerns in the weight room.
- →Consider the JCC for family memberships; parents can utilize the well-regarded fitness facilities while children attend camps.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Amenities may be unavailable to paying members due to facilities being rented out to third parties, leading to questions about membership value.
- ⚠Parking can be difficult, especially during peak season.
- ⚠The cardio room can be 'too HOT' with insufficient AC and fans over treadmills.
- ⚠The weight room 'stinks' and is perceived to lack regular cleaning or visible staff presence ('no grey shirt to clean or help').
- ⚠Requests for air freshener in women's locker room toilets and a bin for dirty towels in the cardio room have gone unaddressed.
- ⚠Lack of enforcement for gym etiquette, such as dropping weights and prolonged phone use on machines, leading to an environment that is not always 'quiet' in stretching areas.
Price & Value
No specific pricing is mentioned, but reviews suggest a membership model. The general sentiment points to high value due to exceptional cleanliness, well-maintained facilities, and friendly staff. However, one review indicates that the value proposition can be undermined if amenities are frequently unavailable due to third-party rentals, leading to dissatisfaction for paying members. Conversely, for those who consistently access the facilities, it's considered 'one of the finest institutions' and 'best in the city,' implying good value if access is reliable.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations for special needs are mentioned in these reviews. However, the overarching theme of 'all are welcome' and 'nobody is an outsider' suggests a generally inclusive environment.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •On-site options include 'health food automats (snack and drink machines)' and a 'little Café/Snack bar' (mentioned with 'outdoor pool area'). No explicit policy on bringing outside food is stated.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking 'could be difficult during peak season'.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Parking difficulties during 'peak season' suggest higher crowd levels during those times. No other specific timing details are provided regarding general facility crowds.
🛡️Safety Features
- •The Aquatics Department is staffed with 'all the lifeguards, especially Violet and Josephine,' indicating supervision and safety protocols for pool areas, which is crucial for children's activities.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Avoiding reliance on specific amenities (e.g., certain pools, gym areas) during peak seasons or without checking schedules, due to potential unavailability from third-party rentals.
- • Families who require consistently cool gym environments or strict enforcement of gym etiquette, as some areas may be hot or have issues with member behavior.
- • If convenient, ample parking at all times is a top priority, as parking can be difficult during peak season.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
🍎Food Policy
- • The New Orleans JCC has an expansive kitchen facility which can be utilized by clients for a variety of needs (for rentals).
- • Vegetables grown in the ECC garden may be incorporated into snack time for the kids by Chef Jeff.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • The health and safety of our community are a top priority.
- • Security (NOPD or private vendor) may be required for events/rentals based on date, size, and timing.
📅Booking Policy
- • Membership can be paid in full or on a month-to-month basis.
- • First month's payment and joining fee (if applicable) are required at the time of membership agreement signing.
- • All accounts must be current to participate in JCC programs.
- • Payment options: Credit/Debit Card Draft, Bank Draft, Annual (paid in full).
🚗Parking Information
- • Designated parking spots on Leontine and Atlanta Streets.
- • Non-metered street parking available on surrounding streets.
- • Public transportation (buses and streetcars) stops in front of JCC Uptown (visit www.norta.com for schedules).
What People Say
What's Great
- Clean and well-maintained facilities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Charles Edward Lincoln III
9 months agoI love the Acquatics Department: Kathleen.and Greg and all the lifeguards, especially Violet and Josephine. JCC, without any doubt, is one of the finest institutions anywhere in New Orleans. I walked right by it for years and assumed it would be "exclusive". But I saw their wonderful Olympic size swimming pool and envied the people who could swim there. I love swimming and there just aren't a lot of pools to choose from. I had gotten horribly out of shape and my doctors referred to my "morbid obesity" and recommended I go there to try to stave off "morbidity." Starting on my son's last birthday, last year, I started going there and it has changed my life. My only regret really thinking what a shame it is that I didn't start going many many years ago. It is super clean and extremely well maintained. If you know New Orleans at all, you will understand how rare and unusual that is in this city. Everyone there is super friendly and always helpful. Nobody is an outsider. All are welcome. I try to go there every day but can oy manage about four times a week. But every time I go I feel better afterwards, and every day I don't go I think about it and wish I were there swimming (they have a fabulous indoor heated pool, slightly less than Olympic size, for our brutal winter weather here in New Orleans, where sometimes it gets as low as 40° F or even a few degrees below). I love the JCC and I have never met a disagreeable person there. That makes it nearly unique! I also like their health food automats (snack and drink machines) and their little Café.
Carolyn Wickstrom
6 months agoI work out here three times/ week. It’s definitely the best in the city. Alvarez is great and perhaps could guide the others at front desk to friendly protocol. Women’s locker room is adequate. I’ve requested air freshener for toilet area several times to no avail. Super fan of rowing machine. No improvements needed. Cardio room is well endowed. Requested bin for dirty towels to no avail. ( Jake and Parker are excellent). Cardio room is too HOT. MORE AC. More AC , more fans especially over treadmills. Weight room is well-stocked. But it stinks. Never see anyone clean it anymore. No grey shirt ( employee) to clean or help with weights. Enforce the no dropping weights and get people off of machines while they text for 10 minutes. No complaints with stretching room, although it should be quiet. NO CELL PHONES. Nice touch lately with very pleasant young lady passing out yogurt and blueberries. Shows you care about us. Recommend the J to everyone I meet. Smile, Michael
Marcio Coronho
6 years agoVery nice facilities. Recently updated. Indoor pool area is awesome and so is the snack bar and outdoor pool area. It's a much nicer JCC compared to Metairie. Parking could be difficult during peak season.
Tom Casper
6 months agoThe JCC uptown is a great choice if you enjoy paying for amenities that are never available. They rent out facilities to third parties and tell paying members beat it. Unsure what my membership is buying.
shula gattegno
a year agoMIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL!!!!! To Alison Marts, the management and the entire staff. First and foremost I would like to thank you Alison so very much for addressing the issue of the mirrors in the ladies changing room. I put in a request in the request box and it was seen to 😊 efficiently and quickly. I would also like to take this opportunity in complementing, the entire staff of the JCC uptown for the efficiency in running the whole complex, the cleanliness is outstanding, the service and the staff are superior. The class’s are wonderful. The opportunities are outstanding and I would recommend anybody to come and join. This is one of the most well run sports complexes I have been to in the world. All the very best Shula.