I’ve been a member of the Teaneck pool at Votee Park for the past three years and have always loved the experience. The adult swim sessions, the refreshingly cool water, and the sunny grass lawn made it the perfect after-work escape. Last year, the cost was just $25 for the season, which felt like a real gift for a Teaneck resident looking to enjoy local recreation.
This year, the new municipal pool by the old Teaneck Swim Club (near Cedar Lane and River Road) is replacing the beloved Votee pool due to the high costs of making the Votee facility safe and up to code. I’m genuinely excited for the updated amenities, which I’ve heard are expected to be much nicer. However, I’d like to raise awareness about the new pricing structure, which may unintentionally leave out many residents, including myself.
Currently, the cost is $150 as a base registration fee plus $50 per person. That means a single person like me would pay $200 this year, which is eight times the price of last summer’s $25. Meanwhile, a family of five pays $400, which is only 3.2 times the price. The more people you register, the cheaper it becomes per person, since the $150 fee gets divided among household members.
That structure works well for families but makes it harder for singles and couples to justify joining. I would love to see the town consider a tiered pricing model instead, such as:
Single: $125 total
Couple: $200 total
Family: $200 for parents plus $50 per child
This way, everyone contributes fairly and more residents can feel encouraged to participate, no matter their household size. It would also be a thoughtful gesture to offer returning members the same $10 discount per person that existed in previous years.
From what I’ve been told, the town is not currently open to adjusting the pricing structure this year, and that is a real shame. I had hoped our elected officials would work to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, especially on something as simple as creating fairer pool prices to help give all Teaneck residents an enjoyable summer.
Pools bring people together. Let’s make sure the pricing does too.
