On November 1, Cherry Hill officially opened the new Kingston Park on the former Kingston Swim Club property.
The nearly four acre neighborhood site now includes a new play area, basketball court, walking areas and other recreational amenities. Cherry Hill's project page confirms the park is essentially complete, with only some pavilion benches and tables remaining.
For longtime residents, there's a lot of history attached to this property.
The Kingston Swim Club opened in 1957 on land donated by the developer of Kingston Estates. Like several Cherry Hill swim clubs, it wasn't just recreation. The neighborhood pool was actually part of the marketing of the new suburban community.
Times changed.
Membership declined and operating costs increased. When foreclosure threatened the property, Cherry Hill purchased it for approximately $441,000, helping prevent the land from being redeveloped. The township has now invested roughly $5 million in the new public park.
From a real estate perspective, I think this is fascinating.
What buyers value in a neighborhood changes over generations.
The private neighborhood swim club was a huge selling feature in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today's buyers also ask about parks, playgrounds, trails, recreation and outdoor spaces that can be used throughout the year.
Amenities help create the character of a neighborhood.
And preserving nearly four acres as recreational space gives Kingston something residents can enjoy well into the future.
This is a great example of an older Cherry Hill neighborhood adapting without losing an important part of its community identity.
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