Revamped Roslyn Pines makes a splash

Chris Adams

Roslyn Pines Swim and Tennis Club has been revamped, according to the club’s staff, offering summer events and activities for a new generation of families.

“We have a lot of great stuff that’s going on there. It’s an opportunity to join a community or something larger than just a club,” said Gabe Gould, president of the Roslyn Pines board.

Three years ago membership was in decline, but staff members said they made changes, including  a new grill offering food, live music and entertainment, as well as spa services.

“We just needed to have young blood in,” said Ivy Santodonato, the pool manager. “We took a club that was ready to die and we just totally revitalized it. It just came back.”

Despite the new features, staff members said the swim club isn’t the type of place where members should be concerned with having the latest swimsuit or accessory.

“There’s no attitudes here, it’s very casual,” Santodonato said. “It’s just a great time where kids can be kids and adults can relax, and leave the outside world behind.”

Gould said he and the board made strides to bring the club into the digital age, including promotion through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Before Gould came onto the board, he said previous generations of families had cycled out of the club, and they needed a way to reach younger families. The first step was in understanding that families use different media than 10 years ago, he said.

“We took a risk this year, and we went completely digital,” Gould said.

 It isn’t just Roslyn residents that the club is trying to bring through its gates, Gould said. Families come from as far as Manhattan and Queens to spend time at the swim and tennis club, Santodonato said.

“I don’t think community is exclusive to regionality. Good people find good people, and that’s what we attract,” Gould said. “This is one of the times where you can just park your car, come in, and be yourself.”

The tennis program received an overhaul to encourage new players, including the restoration of its four tennis courts, Santodonato said.

“Three years ago when I came onto the board, you could hear crickets chirp. Now the courts are filled,” Gould said. “How does that happen? You build a community around it.”

Gould said the club offers children’s clinics to get young players interested in the sport. The club’s resident tennis professional, Tolly Riaz, is a former Davis Cup and Wimbledon player, and offers lessons to members of all ages.

In addition to the courts and pool, Roslyn Pines offers weekend events. Last Friday the club hosted a live band, and this Saturday will feature a magic show. Friday nights are called “Wine and Dine” nights, where members can bring a friend free of charge while the grill is open.

A five-year member said what sets Roslyn Pines apart from other swim clubs is the safety, and a parent’s peace of mind that comes with that. 

“There’s only one exit. So when you come with kids you can just let them go and play,” she said.

Gould said that he keeps membership low, capped at 300 members, in order to maintain the community atmosphere. There is no member card check at the entrance because people at the club get to know the staff, he said.

Another aspect of the community building Roslyn Pines has cultivated is its relationships with local businesses, Gould said. The club partnered with several businesses for events and services, like the Spa at Red Hots, which offers massages and manicures for members. Another business the club hosts is Roslyn-based School of Rock, which teaches children guitar-playing skills.

Gould described Roslyn Pines as a “private Shangri-La,” where the only noise pollution is the birds. 

“Certainly I feel very honored and responsible to be able to deliver it,” Gould said. “Not just for this year, but for the next generation.”

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