LOWER MERION — With the planned closing of the Ardmore Pool this summer, Lower Merion officials have been trying to find alternatives to help residents beat the summer heat.

Now, Lower Merion officials say they have found a way to help some township residents this summer.

During a special board meeting last week, the commissioners approved a letter of understanding with the Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood.

The agreement would allow people who were 2024 Ardmore Pool members and current township residents who live within a mile of the Ardmore Pool to be members at the JCC for the same rates and terms as the Belmont Hills Pool.

The township would then provide a subsidy for the difference between the rates at the Belmont Hills pool and the JCC.

Township officials emphasized that living within a mile of the Ardmore pool only includes Lower Merion residents.

The commissioners discussed the issue during a recent parks and recreation committee meeting. Immediately following the committee discussion, the board convened a special commissioners’ meeting, where it was approved.

In March, the Lower Merion commissioners finalized a plan to close the Ardmore pool for the 2025 season due to the construction of a new Ardmore Avenue Community Center.

During the discussion over closing the pool, the township staff was directed to investigate other pools in the area to see if the township could partner with them.

According to township officials, Wynnewood’s Kaiserman JCC is a mile closer to the Ardmore Pool than the township’s other public swimming pool in Belmont Hills. Belmont Hills is 3.8 miles from the Ardmore Pool and the JCC is 2.8 miles.

Todd Sinai, commissioners president, said that the township staff, including Ernie McNeely, the township manager, and Donna Heller, director of parks and recreation, worked hard to find an alternative for the summer.

“I want to echo the thanks that that everyone has said so far to staff to Ernie [McNeely] and to Donna [Heller], and I think it’s just representative of the all-hands-on-deck response to the idea that the Ardmore pool would have to be closed during the summer for the Ardmore Avenue Community Center construction,” Sinai said. “This is the first I heard that you contacted every pool in the township, which is probably the definition of leaving no stone unturned. Thank you very much, and also thanks to the JCC, I think the JCC really views itself as being a community center for the entire community, and this is an example of the kind of ways that they step up to really deliver when they see that the broader community is in need.”

Originally Published: April 14, 2025 at 5:27 AM EDT