LOWER MERION — There might be one less option for swimming on the Main Line this summer.
One of Lower Merion’s two township-owned swimming pools is expected to be closed this summer following a committee recommendation this week.
Lower Merion officials plan to close the Ardmore swimming pool due to the impacts from construction of the nearby new Ardmore Avenue Community Center.
“Closing the Ardmore pool for 2025 is a very difficult recommendation to make, knowing how much it means to the community, but it was the right one to make,” Donna Heller, director of Parks and Recreation for Lower Merion, said. “The current construction project is a two-year project, which is phased. We can’t push the time or move the time for this project because we need to have it completed by the end of 2026 to meet the funding needs of the ARP requirements and meet that deadline.”
Heller said the demolition of the existing bathhouse is scheduled to begin around April 9. Under the Pennsylvania bathing code, a bathhouse with restrooms and showers is required.
The township looked into renting shower facilities and trailers to meet the state’s requirements, but determined there was not enough space and hookups that would be required to use them. There wasn’t enough room in the Ardmore Avenue Community Center for what was needed.
“There’d also be a lot of construction traffic in the area: debris, dust, and general construction noise,” Heller said. “There’s also going to be construction inside the pool facility to create the new filtration system for the splash pad that’s going to be installed on the location — as well as some sporadic outages of power and water to the site, which would make it difficult to operate the pool on a consistent basis.”
The township staff is also looking into partnering with other pool facilities in the area to determine if they can make arrangements for community use. They are also considering sporadic use of transportation for the Ardmore community to travel to the township-owned Belmont Hills pool or some of the other pools the township can reach agreements with.
Regarding employees at the Ardmore pool, Heller said they would be offered jobs at the Belmont Hills pool, especially since that pool is always looking for lifeguards and gate attendants.
The township’s motion also revised the membership fees for the Belmont Hills Pool for 2025 to have no increase 2025 for residents, and nonresident fees would increase by 6.5%.
Other changes recommended by the staff include not accepting nonresident memberships, other than Narberth residents, for the 2025 season at Belmont Hills pool due to overcrowding concerns.
Discounted membership fees will continue to be offered to Lower Merion residents based on HUD income guidelines, and with that payment plans with smaller payments accepted until the full membership cost has been paid.
“None of us are happy about the fact that the pool is going to be closed this summer,” Commissioner Gilda Kramer said just before the committee’s vote.
Kramer said the commissioners and the staff would continue to search for suitable alternatives for the community.
Originally Published: March 10, 2025 at 4:49 AM EDT