Arrillaga Family Gymnasium: Your Premier Community Sports Hub in Menlo Park, CA

Arrillaga Family Gymnasium Introduce

Welcome to the Arrillaga Family Gymnasium, a cornerstone of the sports and recreation community in Menlo Park, California. As a multi-purpose gym and community center, this facility is more than just a place to work out; it’s a dynamic hub where athletes and community members gather to engage in a variety of team sports. With its two full-size basketball courts, which can be divided by a curtain, the gymnasium offers a versatile space for sports like basketball, volleyball, and badminton. This facility, which is operated by the City of Menlo Park, serves as a vital resource for both organized leagues and casual drop-in players, providing a professional and well-maintained environment for physical activity.

The Arrillaga Family Gymnasium is a testament to the city's commitment to providing excellent recreational facilities for its residents. Its spacious and well-lit interior, as noted by visitors, makes it an ideal venue for high-quality games and practices. Whether you're a part of a nationally-ranked team or simply looking for a fun, competitive game on a Sunday night, the gymnasium offers a welcoming space for all levels of play. The facility's popularity and reputation for offering open-gym sessions for various sports, such as volleyball and basketball, highlight its role as a key destination for Bay Area sports enthusiasts. While some users have voiced concerns regarding the allocation of court time and prioritization of certain sports, the overall quality of the facilities and the helpfulness of the staff are frequently praised.

For residents of Menlo Park and the surrounding California communities, the Arrillaga Family Gymnasium provides a valuable outlet for staying active and connecting with others who share a passion for sports. The availability of multiple courts allows for simultaneous games, which helps to accommodate a larger number of players and ensures that there is always space to practice or warm up on the sides. The gymnasium's policy of offering drop-in play, with affordable fees, makes it accessible to a wide range of people, fostering a strong sense of community among its regulars. The shared passion for sports, from dedicated teams to casual players, is what truly defines the spirit of this facility.

The facility's large size and clean environment contribute to a positive user experience. The well-maintained courts and surrounding areas create a professional atmosphere that is conducive to serious training and competition, while still being friendly enough for casual use. The gymnasium's role as a community center also means it is a gathering place for more than just sports, supporting various community activities and events. This multi-faceted function makes it an indispensable part of Menlo Park's recreational infrastructure. Despite the policy-related frustrations voiced by some long-time users, the physical facility itself remains a high-quality venue that is valued by many for its cleanliness, space, and functionality.

The Arrillaga Family Gymnasium is a key community asset that balances the needs of different sports groups while providing a top-notch facility. Its dedication to being an accessible and welcoming place for a variety of activities makes it a standout choice in the Bay Area. Whether you're a long-standing player or a newcomer to the area, this gymnasium offers a great opportunity to get active and join a vibrant sports community.

Location and Accessibility

The Arrillaga Family Gymnasium is centrally located at 600 Alma St, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. Its convenient position in the heart of Menlo Park makes it easily reachable for residents of nearby communities, including Palo Alto and Atherton. The gymnasium's prime location is a key factor in its popularity and frequent use by local sports groups and individuals.

The facility is highly committed to accessibility, a feature that makes it a truly inclusive community resource. It is equipped with a wheelchair accessible entrance, ensuring that all visitors, regardless of mobility, can enter the building safely and with ease. Furthermore, the gymnasium provides a wheelchair accessible parking lot, which offers convenient and secure parking for individuals with disabilities. A wheelchair accessible restroom is also available on-site, providing essential amenities that meet the needs of all users. This comprehensive approach to accessibility reflects the city's commitment to serving the entire community.

Services Offered

The Arrillaga Family Gymnasium provides a variety of sports facilities and services for the community.

Basketball Court: The gymnasium features two full-size basketball courts, providing ample space for practices, open gym sessions, and organized leagues.
Volleyball Court: The facility includes volleyball courts, which are used for both open gym sessions and league play, catering to a dedicated and active volleyball community.
Badminton Court: In addition to basketball and volleyball, the gymnasium is also equipped for badminton, offering another popular option for local residents.
Community Center Functions: As a community center, the facility can be used for various group activities and events, making it a versatile hub for local gatherings.
Open Gym Sessions: The facility regularly hosts open gym sessions for basketball and volleyball, allowing individuals to drop in and play pickup games for a nominal fee.

Features / Highlights

The Arrillaga Family Gymnasium is recognized for several key features that enhance the user experience.

Enormous and Versatile Space: With two full-size courts separated by a curtain, the gym is "enormous" and "well-lit," providing a high-quality playing environment with plenty of room for multiple activities.
High-Quality Courts: The facility is noted for having "high-quality courts" for both basketball and volleyball, which is crucial for serious players and teams.
Comprehensive Accessibility: A significant highlight is the facility's full accessibility, including a wheelchair accessible entrance, parking lot, and restroom, making it a welcoming space for everyone.
Dedicated Sports Communities: The gymnasium is home to active and dedicated sports groups, such as the Sunday night volleyball players and national championship-winning teams, which speaks to the quality of the athletic environment.
Helpful Staff: While there have been some policy-related concerns, many reviewers have praised the gym's employees for being "nice and helpful."
Onsite Amenities: The availability of clean restrooms and multiple courts for various sports adds to the convenience and appeal of the facility.

Contact Information

For more information about schedules, court availability, or general inquiries, you can contact the Arrillaga Family Gymnasium at the following details:

Address: 600 Alma St, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA

Phone: (650) 330-2220

What is worth choosing

The Arrillaga Family Gymnasium is a prime choice for sports and recreation in the Menlo Park area. Its reputation as a clean, enormous, and well-equipped facility makes it a go-to destination for athletes of all levels. The versatility of the space, accommodating basketball, volleyball, and badminton, ensures that it serves a wide range of athletic interests. The commitment to providing accessible amenities is a major plus, as it ensures that the gymnasium is an inclusive and welcoming place for all members of the community.

While some groups may have experienced policy changes that impacted their schedules, the quality of the facility itself and the helpfulness of the staff remain consistent. For the average Bay Area resident looking for a place to play a drop-in game of basketball or volleyball, the gymnasium offers a fantastic, low-cost option. The presence of dedicated and high-quality player groups also means that newcomers can always find a competitive and engaging game. Choosing the Arrillaga Family Gymnasium means choosing a central, accessible, and high-quality venue that is a true hub for sports and community activity in Menlo Park, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to stay active and connected.

Arrillaga Family Gymnasium Details

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom

Amenities
Basketball court
Restroom
Volleyball court

Arrillaga Family Gymnasium Photos

Arrillaga Family Gymnasium Location

Arrillaga Family Gymnasium

California San Mateo County Menlo Park Alma Street

600 Alma St, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA

Arrillaga Family Gymnasium Reviews

An average rating of ★4.7 from 58 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Used to be good.We have an active group of people that has been using this gym regularly since the beginning (2010). It is the only place in Bay Area where you can play this particular sport. We have won multiple national championships with our team. Our gear is stored at the facility and anyone is welcome to just drop in and play. Over the years we were happy with our very late evening mid-week time slots and we were willing to be flexible whenever there was a need for us to adjust the starting time.This all changed last spring, when gym announced to us that they will be prioritizing other sports over us. They pushed us to weekend slots that obviously don't work well for most people. Consequently, we lost almost half of our active players and have been struggling to get good games going when turn-out is low. Interestingly, at the same time, gym increased our rate by 50%. That isn't the biggest deal since rate is still reasonable but losing mid-week slots really hurts our sport.I wonder how city of Menlo Park, who operates the gym, justifies discriminating certain sports? We have been actively trying to find alternate locations but with a short notice and due to need to access our gear, it has been difficult to find alternatives. Most of the employees at the gym are nice and helpful, so nothing against them. Facilities are good with two full-size basketball courts divided by a curtain.This review mostly reflects gym policies toward our group and may be relevant if there are any other groups considering using these facilities. I hope that city of Menlo Park realizes this unfair practice of giving priority to certain sports over others and changes the policy.
December 08 · Sami L
I come here for the Sunday night volleyball open gym. There are usually 2-3 high-quality courts available. The gym is enormous, so there's plenty of space to practice on the sides when the courts are full. It's very clean and well-lit.
November 16 · Sean Wang
This is the best city basketball gym I've ever seen. Two great full 94' courts with drop-from-ceiling volleyball nets, a court separator apron, clean big showers, and good lighting. The court is kept very clean, so slipping on dust is rare.
May 11 · Brian McClendon
Pickup basketball M-W-F 12-2pm! Incredible quality of courts for a $2 drop in and 20-25 players running two indoor courts
November 03 · David Bahr
It says on their website that basketball open gym is from 1-4 pm on Saturdays. I went with a couple friends 2 weeks in a row to play, but it was filled with a bunch of little kids games from Oak Knoll, Encinal, La Entrada, etc. There was no one at the front to help us figure out when we can come play. Very disappointed.
January 21 · Linnea Lindblom