Demolition Of Kingston Swim Club Begins This Week: Cherry Hill Mayor

CHERRY HILL, NJ — The Kingston Swim Club building and pools will soon be demolished to make way for a recreation area, Cherry Hill's mayor announced this week.

Mayor Susan Shin Angulo said Wednesday that the demolition of the closed swim club on Deland Avenue will begin as soon as Jan. 3, 2023. The township purchased the swim club in 2020, when it did not open and was headed to a sheriff's sale, as Patch reported. Township officials said they would preserve the property as open space, and mentioned turning it into a park or creating walking trails.

Kingston Swim Club had been in operation since 1956.

The former swim club property is 3.98 acres and sits in the middle of the Kingston neighborhood, near the baseball fields and hockey rinks. Angulo said the demolition consists of removing the two pools, the pool equipment building, a small shed, "dead and dying trees," and other facilities including the outdoor grill, basketball courts, and shuffleboard area. Some other features will remain.

"Please note that the pavilion, clubhouse structure and parking area are to remain," said Angulo in a Facebook post. "In addition, this project provides remediation of the existing soils around the pool area. The final result of this construction project will be the completion of an open grassed, passive and safe recreation area behind the clubhouse."

Angulo said the contractor working on the project is required to adhere to local noise ordinances; construction will begin before 7 a.m. and must be finished by dusk.

Any resident with questions may contact Michael Rann, Project Inspector or Danielle Hammond, Contract Administrator at 856-424-3203 during normal business hours.

"My administration, along with Council, continue to prudently invest in our town’s recreation amenities and green space," Angulo continued. "These investments preserve our unique quality of life and make Cherry Hill a great place to live."

Residents' reactions on Facebook were mixed, with some expressing enthusiasm for the project and others saying they were sad the club went under in the first place.