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If You'd Rather Swim Than Run, These 10 Lap Pools Await You

By Susie Kostaras
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By Susie Kostaras

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Welcome to Fitness Week: five days of workout coverage, so that you can start your New Year's resolutions off right.


Equinox Chestnut Hill pool rendering courtesy of Equinox

Looking for a spot to splish-splash in that Speedo of yours? Boston has no shortage of lap pool options, with swanky fitness clubs on one end of the spectrum and nearly free city pools on the other, scattered all throughout the metro area. In other words, there is no excuse to not swim should that make your list of resolutions. Here are ten easily accessible pools to work on butterfly, breaststroke, and freestyle.


· All Fitness Week 2014 posts [Racked Boston]

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Mirabella Pool

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Run by the city itself through Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the Mirabella is a prime summer option literally harbor-side in the North End. While the pool is long enough for laps, it fills up quickly with boisterous kids and sunbathers—so come early morning. Pay $15 once (or $3 for a day pass), swim all summer season. [Photo]
475 Commercial Street, Boston, MA 02109
(617) 635-1276
(617) 635-1276

Cambridge Family YMCA

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Another inexpensive resource is the Central Square YMCA. This basement pool is pretty old school, especially regarding its bizarre 20 yard length. Three lanes can be all yours during several lap swim hours throughout each day. Monthly memberships are $45-55 depending on age (alternately $20 for a week pass or $10 for a day pass). [Photo]
820 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 876-2858
(617) 876-2858

Zesiger Center at MIT

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MIT's Zesiger Center breaks the mold in allowing non-students to use its facilities—and these are super nice ones. Two pools (one is 50 meters with a one meter diving board, the other is 25 yards with six lanes) offer programs including women's only swim and recreational diving. Women's day pass non-student 5-packs run $50, while a single non-student day pass is $15. [Photo]
120 Vassar Street, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 452-3690
(617) 452-3690

Sports Club/LA

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This elite club is home to a luxurious 25 yard pool with individual lanes set up. A "Health Membership" runs $175 a month and swim sessions run between $39 for a semi-private half hour and $85 for a private hour. [Photo]
4 Avery Street, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 375-8200
(617) 375-8200

Boston Sports Club

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This super central location of BSC is home to a lap pool, ideal for either a pre- or post-work swim. It is on the smaller side, but is a nice perk to an overall gym membership that isn't a fortune. Membership runs around $79.99 monthly depending on your contract.
505 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 236-1189
(617) 236-1189

Wang YMCA of Chinatown

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The Wang YMCA is home to a 25 yard pool with five lanes and has a complete aquatics program schedule, including lap swim times. Membership runs $49 monthly for adults over 30 and $31 monthly for those 18-29. Try it out with a free 3-day guest pass. [Photo]
8 Oak Street, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 426-2237
(617) 426-2237

Oak Square YMCA

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A neighborhood destination, the Oak Square Y is a vibrant community fitness spot in general (group classes, including rock climbing, abound). It also features one of the nicer lap pools (25 yards, six lane) in the Boston network, subsequently making for crowded swims during peak hours. Monthly memberships are $50 monthly for the over 30 crowd and $40 monthly for 18 to 29. [Photo]
615 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135
(617) 782-3535
(617) 782-3535

Reilly Memorial Recreation Center

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This Cleveland Circle facility is run by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, and is subsequently free daily during its summer season. As such, it gets crowded on hot days so swing by early if you're planning to swim laps. [Photo]
355 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Brighton, MA 02135
(617) 277-7822
(617) 277-7822

Equinox

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The crown jewel of a pool at Equinox's new Chestnut Hill club is the first local lap pool in the luxury gym chain network. Know that this swimming experience can be followed with all the bells and whistles of an Equinox spa and locker room. Club membership runs $155 monthly. [Photo courtesy of Equinox]
200 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
(617) 531-7077
(617) 531-7077

Flaherty Pool

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Also managed by the Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the Flaherty Pool is an amazing resource for Parkway-area residents, which underwent renovations last year. Teens pay just $5 annually, while adult membership is $30 annually. Two to three lap swim sessions are scheduled daily.
160 Florence Street, Boston, MA 02131
(617) 635-5181
(617) 635-5181
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Mirabella Pool

475 Commercial Street, Boston, MA 02109
Run by the city itself through Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the Mirabella is a prime summer option literally harbor-side in the North End. While the pool is long enough for laps, it fills up quickly with boisterous kids and sunbathers—so come early morning. Pay $15 once (or $3 for a day pass), swim all summer season. [Photo]
475 Commercial Street, Boston, MA 02109
(617) 635-1276
(617) 635-1276

Cambridge Family YMCA

820 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
Another inexpensive resource is the Central Square YMCA. This basement pool is pretty old school, especially regarding its bizarre 20 yard length. Three lanes can be all yours during several lap swim hours throughout each day. Monthly memberships are $45-55 depending on age (alternately $20 for a week pass or $10 for a day pass). [Photo]
820 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 876-2858
(617) 876-2858

Zesiger Center at MIT

120 Vassar Street, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
MIT's Zesiger Center breaks the mold in allowing non-students to use its facilities—and these are super nice ones. Two pools (one is 50 meters with a one meter diving board, the other is 25 yards with six lanes) offer programs including women's only swim and recreational diving. Women's day pass non-student 5-packs run $50, while a single non-student day pass is $15. [Photo]
120 Vassar Street, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 452-3690
(617) 452-3690

Sports Club/LA

4 Avery Street, Boston, MA 02111
This elite club is home to a luxurious 25 yard pool with individual lanes set up. A "Health Membership" runs $175 a month and swim sessions run between $39 for a semi-private half hour and $85 for a private hour. [Photo]
4 Avery Street, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 375-8200
(617) 375-8200

Boston Sports Club

505 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
This super central location of BSC is home to a lap pool, ideal for either a pre- or post-work swim. It is on the smaller side, but is a nice perk to an overall gym membership that isn't a fortune. Membership runs around $79.99 monthly depending on your contract.
505 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 236-1189
(617) 236-1189

Wang YMCA of Chinatown

8 Oak Street, Boston, MA 02111
The Wang YMCA is home to a 25 yard pool with five lanes and has a complete aquatics program schedule, including lap swim times. Membership runs $49 monthly for adults over 30 and $31 monthly for those 18-29. Try it out with a free 3-day guest pass. [Photo]
8 Oak Street, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 426-2237
(617) 426-2237

Oak Square YMCA

615 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135
A neighborhood destination, the Oak Square Y is a vibrant community fitness spot in general (group classes, including rock climbing, abound). It also features one of the nicer lap pools (25 yards, six lane) in the Boston network, subsequently making for crowded swims during peak hours. Monthly memberships are $50 monthly for the over 30 crowd and $40 monthly for 18 to 29. [Photo]
615 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135
(617) 782-3535
(617) 782-3535

Reilly Memorial Recreation Center

355 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Brighton, MA 02135
This Cleveland Circle facility is run by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, and is subsequently free daily during its summer season. As such, it gets crowded on hot days so swing by early if you're planning to swim laps. [Photo]
355 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Brighton, MA 02135
(617) 277-7822
(617) 277-7822

Equinox

200 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
The crown jewel of a pool at Equinox's new Chestnut Hill club is the first local lap pool in the luxury gym chain network. Know that this swimming experience can be followed with all the bells and whistles of an Equinox spa and locker room. Club membership runs $155 monthly. [Photo courtesy of Equinox]
200 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
(617) 531-7077
(617) 531-7077

Flaherty Pool

160 Florence Street, Boston, MA 02131
Also managed by the Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the Flaherty Pool is an amazing resource for Parkway-area residents, which underwent renovations last year. Teens pay just $5 annually, while adult membership is $30 annually. Two to three lap swim sessions are scheduled daily.
160 Florence Street, Boston, MA 02131
(617) 635-5181
(617) 635-5181