No, this picture was not taken at some tony resort in Scottsdale, AZ. In fact it was taken less than eight miles drive from Baristaville proper in Maplewood. Color us green, or maybe pool water aqua. We’ve always heard rumors of a superior pool experience at the Maplewood Community Pool, but after reading in the Star Ledger that the pool now has a concession stand serving lobster rolls and crabcakes, we kind of lost it. We had to see with our own eyes, to believe this wasn’t just some suburban legend. And see we did. The Maplewood pool is a sprawling complex with its own parking lot and four (count ’em!) four pools. The first is a huge toddler pool and play area close to the concession and changing rooms (curtained booths with adjacent showers — how civilized!). Then there’s another huge pool for younger kids. Then what may be one of the biggest pools we’ve ever seen for everyone else. Then a fourth pool for divers. The whole area is ringed with grassy hills, Adirondack chairs, trees and shade decks. To see more of the pool (and the lobster roll) that should be ours (hmm…would the old community hospital have been big enough?), read on. Then tell us, if you could build your dream pool anywhere in Baristaville, where would it be, whose food would be in the concession stand, would there be pool boys, etc…
Yeah, but I bet they don’t have THREE Certified Tree Experts like we do!
Cary
And the $64 question Barista – all this at what fee?
Enquiring minds, you know…
I envision large fake palm trees (but well-made), BIG lobster roll sandwiches and a Sushi bar serving lots of cucumber rolls and veggie food AND fish.
Certain town developers and slum lords would be forced to fan me with large palm leaves. And wait on me for my every need. Also ROC (Right of Center) would be my personal servant for any trivial errands.
Just called — $280 for a family membership and $180 for a single…
$280 isnt’s bad for that at all.
GR charges $700 for a family, and has no palm trees!
It makes Montclair’s pool look like holes in the ground.
Maybe their taxes are higher.
Oh wait; nope.
That is gorgeous!! And for $280 a family! What is Montclair’s problem?
Last week we went to the West Caldwell pool with some friends who live there. While not quite as nice as the one pictured, it left Montclair in the dust– beautiful big pool and large toddler pool, lots of grass and trees (not just a narrow edge of concrete), comfortable chairs, many umbrellas, a concession stand. Compared to Montclair, it felt like a country club. However, it was something like $450-480 per family, which I would think is out of the range of some Montclair incomes.
Echoing– how does Maplewood do it?
How far is this pool?, Do they accept new members?, Why aren’t we all going there?
It’s better, cheaper, but further….hmmmm. tough one.
Perhaps we should raise taxes for people who live “on the hill” to pay for nicer pools. Or maybe we could get big fat donations in exchange for the right to name a pool and put up a bronze bust.
I posed a piece ripping the pathetic state of Montclair’s public pools months ago. Ed. R. was quick to respond that an overhaul is “long overdue,” or words to the effect, and that a study is about to start this Summer of where we go from here. Where I’m going is to the Beach Club hopefully. I’m sure the news pools will be lovely in 2015.
Why join the Maplewood pool when we can have it all right here in Montclair? 300$ sushi dinners…
/grabowsky
As a resident of West Caldwell, I would like to clarify that our membership for the town pool(s) is only $330 per family. The annual fee is for two town pools which residents of Caldwell and Roseland can join for slightly higher fees. The pools are nice and well maintained. Taxes are much better up this way as well!
Montclair only charges $50/adult, $35/child (under 18), $15/Senior Citizen and $150/family. The public should be able to afford public facilities. $280 is a little steep, $700 is outrageous.
They should also be open when the public can use them. Why can’t Montclair keep one pool open until 8:00 during the week so that tax paying commuters can use it?
All fine and dandy – yes, the grass looks greener (and the pool more blue) on the other side of the fence … and then I see those last two pictures … and I think that maybe too many lobster rolls and fries are being served …
Surely I’m not the only soul out there who thinks that “Slim” was being a bit rough above. In a misguided attempt to be cutting. (Which should now lead to an extended discussion of “looksism,” and to more above-it-all wheeze from Franklin.)
Wow, you’re right, they really are porkers. Oops, sorry… What I meant to say is that I find those photos offensive, lacking in sensivity and cultural competence.
We have talked a little about this topic. There is some agreement that the town does not need three public pools. Especially with private pools providing a good service for montclair residents. In addition to raising the fees we can develop two of pools into luxury condos and put the raised funds into one beautiful pool facility. It would be sound economic development. Frankly, we just do not have the money in the budget for three nice public pools that rival the pools you folks like.
A view from church street
What about all you guys “on the hill”? Have you forsaken us little folk? Why, a couple of you could get together over martinis and cigars and write the check like that! Where’s some of that generosity we’re always hearing so much about?
Hey, how come you only posted pix of people wearing black bathing suits?…Isn’t this just a wee bit biased?…/snark
Anyway, that looks like a gorgeous pool…love the cacti!
Speaking of the cacti, how do they maintain it during the cold months?
Hmm … more photos of UMBRELLAS!
Re the cacti: probably like beaches and bars on the Jersey shore always do with those palm trees you see down the shore, they dump them off come autumn and buy new ones in the spring. Which, I realize, is culturally insensitive to our cacti brothers. Thus calls for a seminar on succulent sensitivity.
“Thus calls for a seminar on succulent sensitivity.”
OMG! LOL! 😀
What is the attraction of a community pool or pool club? We have a pool in our yard and I love it. If I/we feel like having company at the pool, we do. And when I feel like going in, all alone in the morning and enjoying the solitude, I can. The kids can swim at midnight if that’s their desire (never closed for swim meets, etc).
Is it a question of cost, space, maintenance, socialization?
Hi Wondering:
I like to swim laps so for me, an Olympic-size (or as close to it as you can get)meets my needs. A smaller, backyard pool, while offering more privacy and less noise and kids, would not give me the same workout.
And yes, I also like the socialization aspect. We run into a few of our neighbors from time to time which is nice.
The things I don’t like about a public pool: you’re at the mercy of their hours (in my opinion, they all open too late and close too early); the NOISE!; you have to wait until school is out in the summer before you have normal pool hours; they close on Labor Day (September, IMHO, is one of the nicest months of the year).
That being said, when you own your own pool, you have to deal with the chemicals, the cleaning, etc. It’s also a liability. In NJ, even if your backyard is fenced or gated, you can be liable if a neighborhood kid gets in your pool when you’re not home and injures himself (or worse). If you have an above-ground pool, you have to remove your pool ladder and lock it in a shed or garage when you’re not at home. Plus, in NJ, you can only use a pool only 3-4 months out of the year.
Hi. Heard you guys were talking about us. Glad you like our pool! Did we mention the raw bar on the weekends, or that you can order a Lobster dinner, which is prepared at Freeman’s store in Maplewood, and delivered poolside! Now, if they’d only let us BYOB, I’d be in stay-at-home mommy heaven.
No really, it’s interesting to note how our pool compares to other communities. I’ve not had the opportunity to venture out and check it out for myself. Good luck getting your facilities brought up-to-snuff.
So glad you like our pool. Just to give you the correct information, the pool membership costs $225 for a family and $115 for an individual. The $280 must be if you want to join after the season begins.
As far as the concession goes, we are so happy that we made such a great decision on choosing Freeman’s Fish. They are a local family, have belonged to the pool forever and own a local business, so they have stake in the community. The people we had before could care less about the pool community and their wants. All you need to do is ask Helen & John for a specific item and it’s on the menu for a trial run.
It’s nice to see that other communities think we’ve got it right!
Yeah… Maplewoodie here… those cactus are as old as me. They dig them up every year and put them in the greenhouse. When that pool opened, it was LOOK! magazine pool of the year. The diving tower was used for the national championship that year. You used to be able to see Ward Homestead (a beautiful McKim Mead and White creation) overlooking the pool… Overall, much better than you all 🙂 But why is every picture posted on here of enourmous old woman?
I am soooo jealous. I live near the Montclair pool and have never bothered using it. It looks awful- like some sort of detention facility.
Who is responsible for this outrage? Give us our big lap pool, grassy knolls, cactus, and pool-side snack-bar.
We certainly pay enough taxes!
I feel ROBBED.
A previous poster nails it – Why can’t Montclair’s pools stay open one mere hour later at nite for the sake of commuters/the rest of us honest working types ?? Especially given the heat of this God awful summer …..
Hey Slim, you stole what I was going to post. Maybe they should offer fruit salad and veggies burgers. My sister lives there and goes to the pool, she say they practically live there in the summer, now I know why. I haven’t seen one negative thing about that town-even their town center is nicer than here and upper montclair.
thanks for commenting on our pool. the snack bar is awsome and the people ther are great too. I’ve gotten to know all the staff at freeman’s poolside and they treat everyeone nicely with a smile on their faces throught the whole day. i haven’t gotten a chance to compare our pool with others so i dont really know if it’s realy that much better but thanks anyway.
I live in Maplewood and also have a large private built-in pool that we love. However despite the rules and those unflattering photos, the Maplewood pool is great for both adults and children. The addition of Freeman’s Fish Market was overdue. I believe that this is the next wave in concessions here in the US – ie. good food options, not just the same lousy junk food. When visisting Nice, France seven years ago they had amazing salads and food served in a restaurant located in the middle of the beach. Happy swimming!