Greentree/Rook station opinions and YMCA's nearby? (Scott Township, Crafton: crime, hotel)

[silverangel313]

Anyone have any opinions about this area? It's really close to the Double Tree hotel. There's a good chance we're going to be moving to that area soon and just looking for some general opinions.

Also, I'm currently a member of a YMCA, is there one closer than the Western Area Y in Coraopolis? I took a look at that Y and it seems like they don't even have a pool on site! We go swimming every day after school and I would love to continue that after we move. I love the Y and I thought they were almost all the same!

Thanks!

[I_Like_Spam]

In Rook Station, you'd be less than 15 minutes from the North Side Y which has a pool.

Its a small neighborhood down there, which is certainly convenient for a short auto trip for grocerty shopping in Parkway Center, the Noblestown Shop n Save or the Walmart in Heidelberg.

It not a hotbed for crime or anything, but its proximity to industry and the interstate would make it a lot noisier than a lot of people are used to.

[silverangel313]

Yeah, I noticed the train station right there, and that's actually fine with me, I've been living next to trains my entire life! I didn't even think about looking at the North Side Y, for some reason crossing a river seems further than going further South! But if its only a 15 minute drive, then yes! I would totally check that one out! Thank you!

[fleetiebelle]

The Jewish Community Center also offers similar fitness facilities as a YMCA. There's one in Squirrel Hill, and in Scott Township, I think.

[Neckbeard89]

I know you can get a good sandwich at Alexions on Rook Station!

The cemetary across the street is nice to take walks in too.

[Goodjules]

I live in Crafton which is very close to Green Tree. I just moved here from San Francisco where I was a member of the YMCA. I joined the Thelma Lovette YMCA on Centre Ave. I checked out the one on North, but the pool was tiny and very claustrophobic. The facility was very old and parking was difficult. Everyone there was really nice and welcoming, but I couldn't see myself being motivated to go to that pool on a regular basis.

The YMCA on Centre was a little further away, but not much and it's a BRAND NEW FACILITY with a HUGE pool. I've always been able to find street parking right in front or directly across the street. I go at lunch time and there have never been more than four people in the pool with me! They tell me it's more crowded early in the morning and after work, but still... Who knows what they mean by "more crowded" when compared to close to zero at lunch time? People are super friendly and welcoming. I love it. It's about 7.5 miles from Crafton and traffic isn't bad at that time of day. You'd have to check it out at the times you'd be going because you do have to go through downtown to get there from our side of town. But if you're coming from school or work, it might be an entirely different route..

[silverangel313]

Oh thank for that info juliegt! I would be going there after my kids get home from school, so I probably would end up fighting with the evening rush hour traffic, but I might still consider that one. What about the one further south in Cloverleaf? I wonder how their facility is? I'm finding this a little frustrating that there aren't that many Y's in this area. I think Greentree would totally benefit having a Y since there aren't any other local ones!

Neckbeard (heh, love that!), I'll check out Alexions! Also, I was eyeing up that cemetary on Google maps and thinking that it looks walkable :-)

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by silverangel313

Oh thank for that info juliegt! I would be going there after my kids get home from school, so I probably would end up fighting with the evening rush hour traffic, but I might still consider that one. What about the one further south in Cloverleaf? I wonder how their facility is? I'm finding this a little frustrating that there aren't that many Y's in this area. I think Greentree would totally benefit having a Y since there aren't any other local ones!

Neckbeard (heh, love that!), I'll check out Alexions! Also, I was eyeing up that cemetary on Google maps and thinking that it looks walkable :-)

I don't know about the YMCA in Cloverleaf.

Do you know how to get into the city the back way through the West End avoiding 376? It usually is one options when you Google directions to get from our side of town to downtown. I think you'd be going against traffic at that time of day anyway, with most people heading out of downtown. I'd go visit at that time to see what the traffic's like and how you like the Y. I'm telling you that it's one of the nicer YMCAs that I've ever been to. While I agree that our area could use a YMCA given all the families here, I'm kind of glad I had to go to another neighborhood to find one. It forced me to get to know another part of town I might not have discovered. I'm new here and eager to explore.

[silverangel313]

Good points, I'll say that you have at least convinced me to check it out :-)

I think I just feel slightly spoiled right now having a YMCA 5 minutes up the road from where I currently live!

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by silverangel313

Good points, I'll say that you have at least convinced me to check it out :-)

I think I just feel slightly spoiled right now having a YMCA 5 minutes up the road from where I currently live!

Where do you live now? I lived in Parkmerced in SF and the Stonestown YMCA was 5 minutes from my house, but it was always very crowded and had a small pool.

You should check out the pool schedule at that time of day too. I believe they always have at least one lane available for lap swimming even while classes are going on, but I'd ask to make sure. I know that at 2pm on certain weekdays the pool is reserved for classes for the kids from a local charter high school (which doesn't show on the pool schedule), but there still may be open lanes for lap swim. I checked the schedule and the pool seems to have open swimming from about 11am - 5:30pm most weekdays.