Just Keep Swimming

Just Keep Swimming

Walking into Ply-Mar, be ready to feel like you’re at home. Not only will you find that everyone's on a first name basis, but soon enough, you will be too. It may seem like just a private swim club, but it's much more than that. Inside the swim club you’ll find a snack bar, playgrounds, locker rooms with everything you will ever need, and more. There’s six tennis courts, a basketball court, ping pong, volleyball and even shuffleboard. When it comes to the pools, there's three! This includes the baby pool, lap pool and diving well, and a rec pool. The club’s hours for the summer are typically eleven a.m to seven p.m everyday. However, some nights and towards the end of the summer the pool stays open later, until nine p.m.

Ply-Mar Sign before the secluded driveway

Ply-Mar also allows people to have parties there for any organization or occasion. Monday through Friday you can have up to fifteen people for a hundred and fifty dollars, with every other guest being an extra seven dollars. But if you decide to have a party, be sure to call in advance. Spots to hold a party fill up quicker than you may think.

With anything private, there comes a membership with it. When it comes to the memberships, you have the choice to be able to pay monthly, or buy an all season pass for two-hundred dollars. Included in that purchase is the use of any sporting equipment Ply-Mar has to offer you, and even sports lessons. While speaking to one mother, she informed me on her day, all while keeping an eye out for her kids. "I spend twelve hours a day here, and I have three kids. Just today, one did swim practice, one did swim lessons, and they both did tennis lessons while my youngest slept or played in the baby pool." When it comes to kids and family in general, Ply-Mar should be your go to location in the summer. For the adults, there is BYOB happy hour after five p.m. Other nights there’s trivia, and sometimes day long family events for everyone to be apart of. These days can include DJ parties for the kids, or fun things like art lessons. Sometimes there is even moon bounces with obstacle courses, popcorn and snow cone machines, and even basketball shooting games.

Lap pool- Family Day

After walking around the pools, I decided it was time to stop in at the snack bar. Besides the huge line, the first thing I noticed was the extensive list of foods available to pick from.  One worker named Sophia filled me in on the huge menu. "The snack bar has options for everyone. Everything is peanut free, there's gluten free and vegetarian options too.” The person behind the huge menu is Art Blumenthal. Not only does Art take the time to make sure everything he orders is safe for every person who walks into Ply-Mar, but he has even gone out of his way to special order things for people. “My son is lactose intolerant, and once Art found out he went to get James his own dairy free ice cream.” So while you might want to bring your own food, the snack bar is a good choice for anyone!

Ply-Mar has swim teams for anyone who would like to take part in a sport. The teams are separated with three levels: Development, JV and Varsity. There are indoor practices and depending on your performance will help decide which team you get put on. The swim club has more than enough activities for everyone to keep the environment fun and lively all summer long. When walking around, I stopped to talk to Maria, one of the swim coaches and lifeguards. “ I have been working at Ply-Mar for three years, and they really have been the best three summers of my life. Not only am I a lifeguard, but I help clean the locker rooms, teach swim lessons, and get all the members checked in. Everyone is so friendly, because everybody knows everybody!”

Fourth of July Sunset over the Lap Pool 

Members really enjoy this family oriented pool, and it’s easy to see that it could feel like home to anyone. For kids, this is the perfect environment for them to be social, meet new people, and grow up. Not only can they really learn a lot, but it’s a positive place for all ages to be. As I took my last look around the club before I left, I realized I couldn't wait till next summer.