MAPLEWOOD POOL MEMBERSHIP UP FOR FIRST TIME IN YEARS

After a troubling few years of declining membership and deficit budgets, the Maplewood Pool saw a bit of a rebound this past Summer with the first membership increase in years, according to the Township.

We reported in May that the pool had seen a steady decline in membership dating back to at least 2010 when there were 8,861 members. That dropped to 8,604 in 2011, 8,003 in 2012, 7,528 in 2013, 7,150 in 2014, and 7,101 in 2015. 

But data for this past summer finds a slight increase to 7,250, according to the Recreation Department. This occurred as the pool celebrated its 50th anniversary and also redesigned its website that is now seen as more attractive and informational.

It also follows a slight change in membership eligibility, which for the first time allowed Township employees who do not live in town to be members this summer.  

That was done, in part, to offset a $140,000 deficit that was seen for the previous three seasons, in part to pay off bonds used for the recent $1 million renovations and new water slides.

Those bond payments are expected to continue for at least the next five years.