Welcome summer! It’s time to get outside and enjoy this beautiful season. When you have older children one of the most fun and enjoyable ways is to spend the day in or near a swimming pool. Another newer trend has been “sprinkler parks” or splash pads, where parents whose children still cannot swim or are only beginner swimmers can cool down without the dangers of being near a body of water. Though it is also entertaining to set up your own water park using your sprinklers or buying some adorable gadgets at a toy store, sometimes a trip out of the house is just what a parent needs. Bring some towels and snacks and you are good to go.
The Township of Teaneck website lists several “sprinkler pools” but some of them are not operational so it is best to call first. There is one at Votee Park and according to the site there should be an attendant there who can turn the sprinklers on if you request it. Veterans Memorial Park in Bergenfield, also known as the Walter Lubbe, Jr. Playground, offers a sprinkler park. Abby Cooper, a Bergenfield resident and mother of a 5½-year-old, 3½-year-old and 2-year-old says, “Memorial park is a lot of fun for my older kids, but a little scary for my toddler.”
Van Saun Park in Paramus has opened a new “Sprayground.” The park is built to look like a giant pond with lily pads and the like. It is more a misty spritz than a hardcore sprinkler effect, but the little kids running around in it looked like they were having a wonderful time. The great thing about Van Saun is that you can take your little ones there for a full day of wet and dry activities.
As for our local swim clubs, there are three top candidates. The Teaneck Swim Club offers a kiddie pool, a full-size swimming pool and a snack bar with tables and chairs. Memberships range from full time to weekly. Members need to be residents of Teaneck. For more information, call 201-836-1977. The address is 700 Pomander Walk, Teaneck, NJ, if you want to drive by and take a look. This club is great for all ages, including parents and grandparents!
The New Milford Swim Club is open to residents and non-residents and is located right off of River Road in New Milford. Their number is 201-265-5635. This is also a beautiful space with swimming activities for all ages. It also has a snack bar with tables and chairs.
Memorial Pool in Fair Lawn is open to Fair Lawn residents as well as residents of Elmwood Park, Prospect Park, Woodland Park, Saddle Brook and Haledon, and it is a much different atmosphere as it is more “beachy.” It has a sand-bottom pool and it is surrounded by beach sand. There is a kiddie swimming area (with a sprinkler component), slides and a raft. Amy Fogelman, a long-time resident of Fair Lawn had only positive things to say about it. “Our kids love it and my husband enjoys going when he can to wind down. It is a great asset to our town.” The pool is located on Berdan Avenue and the phone number is 201-796-6746.
All three of these swim clubs offer swimming lessons and swim teams, if interested.
And if you want to travel a little further, don’t forget all of the great water parks that are just a car ride away. Most important of all, have a great and safe summer.
By Banji Ganchrow
