Cranford Votes To Close One Of Its Pools In 2026

CRANFORD, NJ — The Orange Avenue Pool will be the only outdoor complex available in 2026.

The move from three pools to one was unanimously approved in Resolution 2025-419 on Tuesday night by the Cranford Township Committee and does not affect the indoor Centennial Avenue facility.

The Resolution and multiple Township Committee members pointed towards the growing costs to maintain the outdoor facilities as a major factor in their decision.

"We've been talking about this for many years," Mayor Dr. Terrence Curran said, "the financial state of the pools is really what's driven a lot of the conversations.

"I understand the emotion behind this, but the finances are just not there to continue operating two pools."

According to the Township, the 2,597 total registrations to use the pools in 2025 were just more than half of the 5,099 that were logged in 2011.

Costs have steadily risen for operating the sites. Over the last five years, the Township has subsidized the budget with property taxes and $1 million of American Rescue Plan grant funds that were received in 2021 and are now depleted.

The Township Committee said they were not willing to raise the property taxes of all Cranford residents when only 21 percent of them are registered members of the pools.

Multiple parents took to the podium on Tuesday night to voice their ideas and concerns about moving forward with this resolution. A recurring theme was the impact the decision would have on their kids and what these facilities mean to the community.

"I know that my son really wants me to be here to fight for the pool," one parent said as they addressed the Committee, "...perception means a lot, and it doesn't feel like the proper amount of time has happened here."

One mom even said she was trying to think of ways, like through song, to deliver her message, but felt she had no clear answer other than to just get up and speak.

"I wanted to show my son that I would stand up for him and his friends and try to fight this fight," she said as tears left her eyes and she cried into the microphone.

Commissioner Brian Andrews spoke towards the end of the night and addressed the emotion in the room by acknowledging that this was certainly an opportunity to bring joy to the community that he wished could have gone differently.

"This is a really tough one...membership is declining. People are voting with their feet."

A new task force will also be appointed in 2026 to oversee the pools in Cranford and work alongside the Swim Pool Advisory Committee. The new force must assess the grounds of the outdoor Centennial Avenue pool and recommend ways to use the area that serve the Township.

The divisions will also work to identify any upgrades needed at Orange Avenue for the new season and also build goals for a five-year capital improvement plan for the facility by Jan. 31, 2026.

The new goals will be able to utilize a $750,000 state grant and must provide a phased outline of future capital improvements "to ensure the long-term sustainability and vitality of the facility."

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