>Dip in enrollments pushing town pools to open membership to non-residents
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY JUNE 1, 2011, 7:10 AM
BY KARA YORIO
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
Coveted your friend’s town pool or swim club every summer? Tired of being a guest once or twice a season and jealously checking out the amenities others enjoy every day? This may be your lucky year.
In Ridgefield Park, where Bogota and Little Ferry residents could always join the John B. Davies Municipal Pool, the town is widening its reach for this summer…
Among other communities following suit, Ridgewood is allowing non-residents (beyond Midland Park and Paramus, which have been included for a few years) to join its Graydon Pool. When the Ridgewood Village Council voted to open up the memberships in March, it was strictly a dollars-and-cents issue. Non-resident memberships are limited to 250.
At the time the measure passed, village parks and recreation director Tim Cronin estimated revenue would rise substantially from the new rules and fees.
“Based on last year, we think we can generate another $41,000 in revenue for the summer of 2011,” Cronin said.
Graydon, a sand-bottomed, beach-rimmed pool that is more like a lake, also has a new attraction called The Wibit, which looks like an inflatable obstacle course for kids to navigate over the water. The town’s website says The Wibit “is certain to enhance enjoyment while also providing physical fitness.”
They hope it’s a draw from near and far. The village council changed the rules for this year and 2012. Beyond that is unknown, but it might take a little time for non-residents to catch on and the town to cash in.
