Believe it or not Memorial Day is weeks away and swimming is one of the top summer activities for kids and families as they hit the town pool. May is National Water Safety Month, a great reminder to seek out places that will help your family master or renew their skills of water competency: enter the water, get a breath, stay afloat, change position, swim a distance and then get out of the water safely.
I've rounded up the public pools for the Macaroni Kid Summit Short Hills SoMa towns. Local and affordable activities are the bread and butter of my family's downtime. A town pool membership is a great way to connect with your neighbors and offers way more than swimming! Many pools have free or low cost counselor-led activities like crafts, games and camps. Every town in the Macaroni Kid Summit Short Hills SoMa has access to public pool and some even offer non-resident memberships! Check out the these pools serving West Orange, Livingston, South Orange, Orange, Maplewood, Millburn, Short Hills, Summit, Vauxhall (Union), Chatham and Florham Park.
Ginny Duenkel Pool
West Orange
What we love: Named after US Olympian and former West Orange resident Ginny Duenkel! West Orange's town pool hosts a Swim Team and offers swimming lessons. Splash pad and protected shallow section for the littles! Fun events include floating movie night.
Northland Pool and Mervyn V.T. Haines Pool
Livingston
What we love: Livingston Township boasts not one, but two town pools! Enjoy the Haines pool located behind the High School and close to other activities like the library and walking Oval, or choose the Northland pool with access to the town's Senior, Youth and Leisure Services Center with a range of other fun activities.
Peter S. Connor Memorial Swimming Pool
South Orange
What we love: Located along with other fun outdoor activities in the Cameron Field complex, South Orange has an enormous main pool, a wading pool and a diving well. It even has it's own Twitter account!
Maplewood Community Pool
Maplewood
What we love: The pool complex offers 3 pools and a diving well. Join the Swim Team or Dive Team, take swim lessons or get in the water for early morning commuter lap swims. Stay for the Summer Concert Series! Have you hear of the Pool Pal Fund? Contributions to the fund offers assistance to our neighbors who may not otherwise be able to enjoy the pool season.
Central Playground Pool, Metcalf Park Pool and Colgate Park Pool
Orange
What we love: Three pools for City residents sprinkled around town and located at public parks. Swim lessons are offered.
Millburn Municipal Pool
Millburn and Short Hills
What we love: Main pool and wading splash pad available for your swimmers. The municipal pool hosts a Swim Team and water based activities like aerobics. Kids will love the spiral slide and cannonballing from the diving boards.
Memorial Park Pool and The Colony Club
Chatham
What we love: How do you choose between a classic town pool and a municipal swim club? Chatham is spoiled for choice! Unique features include a sand beach, log roll and a Sand Castle Contest!
Family Aquatic Center
Summit
What we love: Olympic-sized main pool with attached dive tank and a zero-depth entrance leisure pool, equipped with interactive play structures. The Center has a children’s playground, basketball court and sand volleyball court right at the facility!
Florham Park Municipal Pool
Florham Park
What we love: Beautiful, sparkling pool located at the municipal complex. A summer long schedule of crafts, games and theme days keep kids busy after they get pruney. Call the town to see if the pool will host Floaty Fridays this summer!
Columbian Swim Club of Union
Vauxhall (Union)
What we love: The pool will be opened to all residents to the Township of Union under a “pay as you go” facility. Swimmers will enjoy newly refreshed pool and kiddie pool and lounge furniture.
