South Shore Country Club update: Pool unlikely to reopen next summer

September 18, 2019 By Carol Britton Meyer

The South Shore Country Club pool has been a popular summertime gathering place for many years, but a recent safety engineering report indicates that the pool and a portion of the  maintenance facility underneath it are in such a deteriorating condition that they will need to be taken out of operation indefinitely, according to Country Club management.

This is disappointing news for the some 200 families who pay for pool memberships, those who participate on swim teams and in sports and other camps -- including the Special Needs Athletic Partnership program, and other pool users.  The Hingham Rec manages the pool.

"Hingham will most likely be unable to open the town's only public pool next summer, with our maintenance facility also being compromised," Country Club Management Committee Chairman Christine Smith told the Hingham Anchor.  "As the safety of our employees and children is paramount, we need to find a solution quickly and thoughtfully. As we propose a scaled-down pool plan within a new overall master plan, we are now working backwards from how many years Hingham will be without a pool."

Smith and South Shore Country Club Executive Director Kevin Whalen presented a smaller project than earlier proposed -- focused on a year-round outdoor pool facility with a bubble in the area of the current tennis courts -- to the Selectmen this week.

Part of the reason for the focus on a smaller, more manageable project is the determination that "at this juncture, the pool will not open next summer.  This places a great deal of urgency around moving forward with a pool project sooner rather than later," Selectmen Chairman Karen Johnson told the Hingham Anchor.  "The community at large as well as the Recreation Department and the SNAP program depend on the pool for summer swim lessons and recreation.  The Board of Selectmen supports this revised concept and supports the Country Club as an important community asset." At the meeting, Warren Pelissier spoke in support of the pool project both as a citizen and as a representative of SNAP. He is also President of the Friends of South Shore Country Club.

Jack Bailey, William Friend, and Sue Sullivan, all members of the CCMC, were in attendance and in support.  "Hingham Recreation Director Mark Thorell  spoke about the cooperation between the Country Club and the Rec Department for summer programming, and  Community Preservation Committee Chairman Larry Lindner spoke about the Community Preservation Act process," Johnson said. (The money comes from a tax surcharge approved by Hingham voters in the early 2000s. These funds are partially matched by the state. This money can only be used for open space, historic preservation, affordable housing, and certain recreation projects.)

CPA request

Whalen and Smith went before the Selectmen because as a town-owned facility, the Club must gain Selectmen approval in order to submit an application for CPA funding. The CCMC is requesting funds under the Community Preservation Act through Hingham's Community Preservation Committee to help cover part of the cost. More details to come.

Whalen and Smith also described to the Selectmen the need for a facility-wide master plan that the Country Club will undertake in the near-term to determine in part capital and infrastructure needs for the entire facility.  "The last time a facility analysis was done was 2006," Johnson said.  "It was a great discussion."

With regard to funding for a new pool, Smith said, "No emergency short-term funds are available to help us, as the town only allocates [a limited amount of funds] for emergency reserve fund transfers, other than snow and ice, for the entire fiscal year."

Fundraising dollars are needed for both building documents for this scaled-down plan and capital money to build a pool, including installing a bubble that would allow year-round swimming, according to Smith.

How you can help

Obtaining funding for a new pool is an immediate need, and that's where the Friends of South Shore Country Club comes in.

This group, which is involved with fundraising, was formed almost four years ago when it was clear that the pool was beginning to fail. Extensive testing was done every year prior to opening the pool for the new summer season to ensure it was safe to use.

"It's important to note that this information was sent to all citizens and the call was made to begin the new pool project," said Pelissier. "The pool has structurally failed and probably can not be salvaged. Our efforts have been toward raising $350,000 to combine with Community Preservation Act funds of $300,000 to create the building plans for our new complex."

To date the Friends of the South Shore Country Club has raised $130,000 in cash and pledges. "We need to raise an additional $220,000 to create the pathway to a new pool at the Country Club," Pelissier said. "This asset, South Shore Country Club, was bought by the Town in 1987 for $7 million, and the Club has successfully paid off all debt, pays for itself every year, and is currently appraised for $18 million."

The pool has been integral to the Club’s success "and is the only public pool where our children can learn to swim. In a town that is situated on the water, this is very important for our young families," he said.

To make a donation, visit friendsofsscc.org

On a parallel track, Johnson said, the CCMC "is also looking at a location for a new and upgraded maintenance facility. The need for one is tied to the pool failure because the maintenance bays are located underneath the pool.  The CCMC will also be exploring ways in which they might fund this project."