Cherry Hill Council Approves Purchase Of Swim Club For Open Space

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Cherry Hill is moving ahead with a plan to purchase the Kingston Swim Club property and preserve it as Open Space. Council unanimously approved a pair of consent agenda resolutions that paved the way for the township to purchase the swim club when it met Monday night.

The first resolution authorized the township to purchase the property, and the second endorsed its application for Open Space funding to complete the purchase. Cherry Hill Mayor Susan Shin Angulo called the purchase a "bold and decisive decision."

"I promised to do everything I could from Day One to protect the neighborhood residents' quality of life," Shin Angulo said. "Our goal is to protect and enhance the charm of the Kingston neighborhood."

“This is great news. This is a huge win for the neighborhood, and a huge win for the community,” Cherry Hill Council President David Fleisher said.

The club will close within 30 days of the purchase, and will not continue as a swim club, Fleisher said. Once it is closed, officials will meet with residents of the neighborhood to collect input as to what they would like to see go there.

Cherry Hill Council Vice President Brian Baurle said he spoke with the club, residents, the neighborhood association and the local sports group, and they all supported the purchase.

"It was a partnership," said Baurle, who said no one wanted to see this outcome for the swim club. " ... We look forward to working together on what is appropriate for that space."

"While we are very disappointed to see the swim club close, we are thrilled that the mayor and council stepped in to protect the property," Kingston Swim Club Board President Bob Mangels said previously. "This is a great outcome for our community."

While residents were sad to see the club close, they were thankful that the township stepped in before developers entered the picture.

"I'm sad it couldn't stay open as a pool, but I'm excited for it to be preserved for Kingston and the greater community of Cherry Hill," resident Rob Connor said.

"To not have to worry about the development of housing as real blessing to our neighborhood," resident Anne Einhorn said.

"Thank you so much," resident Yolanda Lorenz said. "This is really amazing."

The club didn't open for the 2020 season and was headed toward a sheriff's sale, the township said in a statement announcing its plans last week. Read more here: Cherry Hill Set To Buy Kingston Swim Club, Use It For Open Space

Residents were concerned because the 3.98 acre site sits in the middle of the Kingston neighborhood, up against several homes. It is next to the baseball fields and hockey rinks.

The township said its position in the neighborhood near the fields makes it prime land for a neighborhood park or walking trail. The Cherry Hill Department of Public Works will clean up, secure and beautify the site in the coming weeks, officials said.