Boooooooooooooooo!

Well, the NAC has been trying to ruin this business for years. Guess they finally succeeded.

Keep killing off the competition...soon Worthington will own all of Newtown. small man with a Napolianic complex.

So then where will people who do not belong to NAC and don't have a pool i belonged their development go swimming?

The Newtown Swim Club was in need of major upgrades. The men's room was falling apart, the playground had boards falling off it and the golf course had mold.

A rising tide raises all ships (except for the ships that sink). I guess it's easy to blame Jim Worthington if you decide to let your emotions get into the way of logic. The Newtown Swim Club has been the only game in town for years. You're going to tell me they're going out of business due to the proposed plans of the NAC? I submit to you that ship (NSC) was already sinking.... I always thought competition was good for business.

This article fails to mention the reason for the closing. As stated in the first paragraph of the e-mail sent by Mr. Platt "I have been given news about my health that has prompted me to plan for my retirement sooner than expected."

My family will miss the swim club and wishes Mr. Platt and his family well.

Jill, I elected to leave out personal information regarding Mr. Platt's health until I heard back from him. I'll update the article if I hear back.

I would guess from some personal experience that it was a combination of reasons including competition from the NAC, health, as well as the large sum of money a development will bring in.

Did you know that Worthington owned the small house at the front of the property and wouldn't sell it just so he could keep NSC from being able to use the street frontage? I worked at NSC for years and they had a nasty relationship. Hopefully the plans are rejected and the township can buy and run the pool like LMT.

I have been away from Newtown for many years but spent my youth growing up there, swimming on the team and working as a lifeguard. I had really hoped to be able to move my family back to Newtown for the schools and the amaizing community. Newtown Swim Club had been a place I had hoped to pass on to my kids. This is sad news.

I actually didn't include it as a suggestion of another place to go, I felt it was relevant information and more than coincidental that the swim club is closing concurrently.

It is always sad when a long standing business in a community decides to close. I think it is best to not jump to conclusions and respect the owner's stated reasons for doing so without placing blame on others or jumping to erroneous conclusions.

Another one bites the dust !

The Township buy the NSC? Now that's funny! They are so broke because of fiscal irresponsibility that they can barely pay their bills without shuffling money around. Between a massive municipal complex and the disaster that is the Woll tract, and no tax increase in 17 years, they are operating with smoke and mirrors...and before someone jumps on me about advocating a tax increase, Newtown Twp has the lowest municipal taxes in the county (about $94 per household per year). Instead of adjusting tax revenue, they try to sell off infrastructure like radio towers,. Its going to catch up one of these days!

I'm so sad to hear that this place is closing. The pool opened when I was 6 so I spent a large portion of my youth going there. I moved out of Newtown after college but my parents still live there and I was hoping to be able to take my kids there one day. It's really sad to hear about and I can't believe the NAC is so big now. It was just a Racquet Club when I was a teenager.
The author of this article was incompetent and unprofessional though.

Sharon, what about the article do you find incompetent and unprofessional?

Sharon...why/how was the author "incompetent and unprofessional"? Is it because she mentioned the 800lb gorilla in the room, the NAC? Its an obvious conclusion and one a 7th grade journalist would draw. C'mon, don't kill the messenger just because you are upset.

I am disappointed to read some of these comments as they are unfounded and grossly negative. The Newtown Swim Club, as a business, I’m sure has many reasons for closing and the opening of a swim complex at the NAC is completely unrelated to this occurrence. In any community in the country would you tell one business to stifle growth and expansion in deference to another? That is not free enterprise. Everyone in Newtown wishes Mr. Platt well in his endeavors. To imply that others don’t is a disservice to those people and is baseless conjecture.

By the way...not saying Kara is a 7th grade journalist either. Just saying its such an obvious conclusion that she would be remiss if she didn't mention it.

I thought it was rude how you mentioned the NAC in the article even though this is about the NSC.
Why mention the reason he's closing it? That's information for him and his family not the entire Newtown community.

As I mentioned before, the fact that the swim club is closing at the same time another pool, just a few miles away, is opening I believe is relevant. The article did not say that's the reason why he is closing. It's just a fact that relates to the subject that I felt should be included.

Why should the TWP buy the POOL ?? Gov. can NOT Run it's oblgated Tasks Right.. Why spend more MONEY to Go into Private Business ??? Then OVER pay the HELP to Vote for them... Look at Greece !!! and U will see the Coming attractions for America.
Stand Up OR Sit Down.. But STOP CRYING !!!

Brace yourselves for the next several years of heated municipal debate over the type of housing going in and it's impact on traffic. Ugh. And thank you NSC. My kids learned to swim there and we always enjoyed our time at the club. It's the end of an era..

The article has been updated with information from owner David Platt.

This is very sad news... I went to camp and worked at NSC/NDC for 14 years. I learned how to swim under the instruction of the lifeguards as a kid, and I learned the value of working with the campers on a daily basis as a Head Counselor for 5 years. It's a sad day, and I can honestly say from working around all the staff and my supervisors, this is a very sad day for many children who will be without a caring and nurturing summer environment after next summer.

For those not interested in the NAC, there is always Brookside Swim and Tennis on Stony Hill Rd, small and member owned. No zip code restrictions.

(Sarcasm mode: on)
Finally Newtown Township is going to get some residential housing! A couple hundred more houses and we'll finally have the right mix of commercial and residential zoning that gives a town a real organic community feel that is worlds apart from the characterless wasteland of a commuter bedroom community. I'm always glad to see too that while developers make a tidy profit for themselves building houses, they also make sure to bear the added costs of the new public infrastructure necessary to accommodate the surge in population their developments bring.

Pat, sounds like you're a disgruntled former NAC employee. Get a life!!

Dave, have you heard if there are any plans on moving the Barracudas to another pool after NSC closes or will they just dissolve? I'm just wondering.....this is my daughters 1st year swimming with the 'cudas and we are very sad to hear the news about NSC.....

Kara, once again I would like to thank you for all you do for the Newtown Patch. I appreciate all that you report on and news about Newtown. Some of the responses to your reporting on this is wrong. I took your paragraph on NAC as the suggested alternative.

Pat, before you respond about being on Patch payroll, Kara's husband or something like that - I just think you need to get a grip.

Thank you Ed B

I think he was saying the opposite -- he's neither on Patch payroll nor my husband. If you feel like Patch has some ulterior motive, you are by no means obligated to read. Have a nice day, Pat.

It is always sad when a business has to make a decision to close due to the economy or other reasons. The NSC will be missed. But these comments are getting out of hand. People need to get a grip and look at the facts.

I agree , it is sad when a business has to make a decision to close. It will be missed by many people in the community. People should not be blaming the NAC for the NSC closing as the NAC is a small private business as well and has the right to offer their members a pool if they would like.

The Newtown Swim Club has been a great contribution to the community over the last three decades. It is unfortunate that it's time has come to an end. However, the families that belonged there will undoubtedly find other alternative venues to swim in throughout the coming summers. Although the NAC may not be for everyone, it does have many great things to offer individuals and families. Those not looking for the lifestyle that the NAC has to offer will certainly find a home at any one of the other local swim clubs in the area.

I don't live in Newtown, but i see the Podiatrist across the street. The swim club parking always seems full during the summer (daytime during the week). This is really too bad. Active recreation is so lacking today, and here goes another outlet for it. And for what--"housing?" Just my two cents worth, but I really don't think Newtown needs more McMansions. Then again, those that own the swim club, assuming they are already wealthy, well....I guess they need to be even wealthier. Too bad for the community. That's the way of it these days. Profit first; everything and anything else just doesn't matter.

As a NAC member, I am excited for this new addition for myself and family. This addition to my membership will not only provide a safe place for my children to enjoy, but also cost less than joining a swim club, which in these tough economic times, my family cannot afford. That being said, I do wish the owner of NSC the best of luck.

As a conservative, I believe in free enterprise and success. Kudos to the Platt's for owning a successful biz for so long and being able to RETIRe when they want! Not a bad gig to get the $$ for the property. AND Kudos to the NAC for continuing to be a successful biz that employs hundreds of people and pays tons in taxes to Newtown Twsp. Free market dictates biz, get over it!!

Pat, i am not suggesting anything at all about Patch or Kara. I am suggesting that you are making ridicules comments here and going on the offensive to many other who post here and Kara. Completely unnecessary and childish.

Like Kara said, you don't have to read the patch. I will though.

There is some very interesting and thought provoking commentary here, everyone should be applauded. Let's not denigrate the process by bickering regarding different views.........everyone will have one. The decision to sell the club to a developer should be respected, I am sure the owners will realize more of an economic benefit via that exit strategy than to try and keep the club going as an operating concern. I too will miss it having been a member there since 2000 and watching my three kids enjoy the facilities. As for the township purchasing it and converting it into a municipal facility............HA! They are broke and cannot meet their future obligations. And empirical data CLEARLY demonstrates that government agencies cannot manage effectively what the private sector can......

Just like Frost Watson, Toll Bros is probably involved in this decision to close. An offer they can't refuse. Although not happy with yet another overly compacted neighborhood in Newtown, I too would take the money and run in this economy.

I wish David Platt an easy fight and be able to enjoy his future years in peace andrelaxation !

I was a NAC member for close to 20 years and finally had enough... Constantly building, building, building with fees constantly going up, up, up... I don't think they'll be happy until they own all of Newtown. Ugh, no thanks!

Mr. Platt, I wish U the best, Take care !