Tucked away at the end of a long dirt driveway on Shoemaker Road sits a hidden summer playground. For 68 years, the Knollwood Swim Club has served as a beloved refuge for families, and especially kids, looking to fill their sunny summer days with fun. You might easily miss the modest sign at the entrance if you aren’t looking for it, and the club is set so far back from the road that passersby would never guess the activity taking place deep in the wooded property. But for decades, Knollwood has been a happening place for kids and adults of all ages.
Even though I’ve lived in Webster for a while, I didn’t know much — OK, anything — about the club. So at April’s Community Arts Day, I took the opportunity to stop at the club’s information table to find out more, and accept an invitation to visit as they prepared for the 2026 summer season.
Finally, this week, the pool was filled and the grounds tidied up for opening day. So on Tuesday, I drove down that long driveway myself and was delighted by what I found: a large, open, welcoming area that kind of reminded me of a campground. Sara Knowlden, the club’s president, was there to greet me, give me a tour and tell me more about the club’s history.



Knollwood Swim Club first opened in 1958, and sits on 1.7 acres. The heated pool, deep enough for diving, is the focal point of the facility, but members also enjoy an eight-inch deep kiddie pool (also heated), a volleyball court, fire pit, picnic tables and a gas grill. There’s plenty of pool toys for the kids and lots of comfortable lounge chairs and umbrella seating inside and outside the fenced-in pool area. The club is membership-driven and operates as a co-op, which means that it’s run by the families. Each family is assigned to one of three committees: maintenance, chemicals or grounds. That way no outside help needs to be hired, which keeps membership costs reasonable.
One of the club’s main attractions is their swim lessons. They’re offered to members four days a week for six weeks, and are included in the membership price, no matter how many kids are in the family. On top of all that, kids can have their birthday parties there, compete in the cardboard regatta, the Knollwood Olympics and the diving contest (can you make the best splash?), and swim till dusk on Glow Night. There are water aerobics classes, family picnics, toddler storytime, an ice cream social, and a campfire and movie night. Parents even get their own adult-only “steak night,” when they grill steaks and everyone brings a dish to pass.
It’s summer fun exactly as it was meant to be. But as wonderful as the swimming, special activities and swim lessons are, the best part of the Knollwood experience isn’t the pool toys, the lounge chairs, or the diving contests. It’s the sense of family.
“Knollwood is more than just a place to swim,” Sara said. “The pool club is a community gathering place where families connect, friendships grow, and members work together to create a welcoming summer tradition.” It’s the “little pool club with a big heart.”
This Saturday, June 6, you can check out Knollwood Swim Club for yourself, when they host an open house from 2 to 6 p.m. Stop by to try out the pool or just have a look around and enjoy an ice cream. (If the weather is yucky, the open house might be changed to Sunday, so check the Facebook page for the latest details.) For more information on club features and membership, visit the Knollwood Swim Club website here.
Knollwood Swim Club is located at 1043 Shoemaker Rd. Look for the sign!
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(posted 6/3/2026)
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