Cherry Hill Opens Kingston Park on Former Swim Club
The township turned the long-running Kingston swim club site into a public park after buying the property to prevent development.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Residential
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Cherry Hill has opened a $5 million Kingston Park on the site of the former Kingston swim club, which was demolished after the nonprofit operating it stopped making mortgage payments. The township paid $441,000 for the property, which is zoned institutional, to keep it from being developed.
Why it matters
The township intervened after TD Bank threatened to foreclose on the property, turning a privately run club into public recreational space for Cherry Hill residents. The outcome preserves open space in the township rather than seeing the land sold for development.
The township paid $441,000 for the institutionally zoned property, and Kingston Park was built at a total cost of $5 million. The club sold 355 membership bonds in 1956 before opening in June 1957 on nearly four acres donated by the Kingston Estates developer.
The players
Cherry Hill Township
The municipal government of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, which purchased the swim club property and funded the construction of Kingston Park.
TD Bank
A large national bank headquartered in Toronto with a major U.S. retail presence, which threatened to foreclose on the Kingston swim club property.
The details
The Kingston swim club, opened in June 1957, was operated by a nonprofit that fell behind on mortgage payments amid high maintenance expenses. The new Kingston Park includes playground equipment, a basketball court, and other amenities on the former club grounds.
Timeline
1956: The Kingston club sold 355 membership bonds.
June 1957: The Kingston swim club opened.
November 1, 2026: Kingston Park opened on the former club site.
Roadmap
Municipalities across New Jersey have increasingly bought failing private recreational properties to preserve them as public open space rather than allow residential or commercial development. Cherry Hill's Kingston purchase follows that pattern, converting a 62-year-old private swim club into a township-run park.
Cherry Hill residents now have access to a new township park with playground equipment and a basketball court on the former Kingston club grounds. The township's purchase also keeps the property from being developed, preserving the open space nearby residents have used for decades.
The takeaway
Communities facing the loss of a private recreational site can sometimes preserve it for public use through municipal purchase, as Cherry Hill did with Kingston. Residents interested in local park planning can follow township meetings for updates on future amenities.
Further reading
For more on local property trends, see Residential coverage for Cherry Hill.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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