Last Updated on April 6, 2026 by stlplace
And I am open to all suggestions 🙂
Some background – amid the most recent war and the turmoil in the middle east, I thought about quitting JCC earlier next year – I shared my thoughts here YT Video (in Chinese) a few days ago.
Now I think I may do it a bit sooner – the earliest time I think is starting next month May 2026. This is a bit like if people decided to move on from a relationship or a job, it doesn’t make much sense to hang around long, if they don’t expect things to change. In this spirit, I think about cancelling the membership at the end of April – before they start charging me the month of May membership. I know I had said a lot of good words for the J, the short name for JCC, over the years: including my blog posts over the years and this one in particular. Both my kids participated the Day Camp there in summer. But now I think it’s time to move on.
I am thinking about some alternative locations for indoor swimming, if I continue to do that. Another thing I like to have is an indoor walking track – West County mall is one option (in that case The Lodge at Des Peres may be fit the bill?). I like to walk outdoors. But here in STL, there are quite a few months in the year that the weather will be either be too hot or too cold to walk outside, or too rainy. And I can think of the below list. I will be taking time to decide my next move as I am not in a hurry. I would join the Olivette’s Five Oaks off Warson, the closest community center (walking distance from my home), if they have one of those. But it seems to me they only have work out (exercise) machines (treadmills, bikes, weight machines etc.), and pickleball and basketball court. I am decent on pickleball, but I haven’t been fully sold on that sport. Btw, about 2 years ago I poked fun at the pickleball here.
The list
Center of Clayton || Membership rates below (monthly), probably the closest among all the gyms.
| catergory | Resident | Corporate | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth (3-17) | $32 | $38 | $42 |
| Adult | $47 | $56 | $67 |
| Senior (65+) | $38 | $45 | $49 |
| Family | $78 | $90 | $111 |
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Maryland Heights Community Center: it looks like their rate is much cheaper than the J membership.
Prices below are listed as Resident/Non-resident
Adults (Ages 16-61):
- 12 Months: $270/$324
- 6 Months: $169/$203
- 3 Months: $101/$115
- 1 Month: $41/$49
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Not too far from Maryland Heights CC, the YMCAs (Edward Jones branch)
Richmond Heights
Lifetime Fitness (this one is a bit more expensive; I feel it’s too expensive for my income or taste)
Forest lake tennis and swimming club (outdoor pool only): my younger daughter is already doing weekly tennis clinics there.
The Lodge (Des Peres)?