Page 2 - MCC-2014-Booklet-Final

Introduction

Dear Member: addition of a pool is the best investment we can make for
Plan Developed By: this next generation. We believe that a correctly designed
The Merion Cricket Club is a special and historic place. pool could appeal to all Club demographics. Please note
Facilities Planning Committee We can trace its roots back to the 1850s, making it one that a pool was listed in the top six amenities needed in
Pete Classen – Chair of the oldest private clubs in North America. The Club our membership survey. Finally, we propose converting two

Tom Carr has thrived and grown over these many years because of the adjacent residential properties Merion owns into
Ali Farrell it has maintained a sense of relevance and made smart guest cottages for overnight accommodations. We believe
investments when the membership and analysis said it
it would expand our capabilities with a relatively small
Jennifer Kinkead was the right thing to do. We are all beneficiaries of the capital investment and be cash flow positive for the Club.
improvements that have come from these initiatives and We believe this package of improvements would ultimately
Ex-Officio
Lisa Stokes – President now it is time for us to look at what we can do to shape a make the Club more accessible, more attractive and more
stronger future for our Club.
competitive, which is what is necessary to sustain it for
Caleb Tindall – General Manager another 150 years.
Michael Dimmerling – Controller Over the past couple of years, the Board of Government
Maarten Pesch, AIA – WRT Principal and Facilities Planning Committee have been engaged in a This booklet contains pertinent information on how we
process of identifying strategic and facility plans that would arrived at this point and what we are recommending for the
assure the long-term success of our Club. This in-depth future. It includes highlights of our research, recommended
Professionals Involved effort has included strategic planning; a facilities conditions improvements, a funding plan and an outline of the next
McMahon Group audit; reviewing major lifestyle trends affecting private steps in this process. We have also included an Opinion
WRT Architects & Planners clubs across the country; studying our competition and area Survey with this packet. It provides you the opportunity to
demographics; analyzing membership trends; collecting critique and prioritize the proposed plan and indicate your
member input through focus groups and a membership desire to see the Club move ahead with it. It also asks you
survey; evaluating a wide range of options; and developing to evaluate the funding plan.
a long-range facilities plan. We are now at the point where
we can bring the results of these studies to the members Please take the time to review this booklet and provide
for review and testing. your feedback in the Opinion Survey. We are committed
to developing a plan that is supported by a substantial
After considerable deliberation, we propose this Campus majority of the membership and will be effective in
Master Plan. It would deepen our current offering and achieving our long-term goals. This can only happen if as
broaden it with additional amenities. In our focus groups many members as possible provide their input. Thank you
and membership survey, you told us that fitness, parking, for your time and support throughout this process. The
squash, tennis and paddle are areas you want expanded. Club is important to all of us and this process will see that it
You will see proposed solutions in each of these areas. We remains one of the area’s premier private clubs.
also feel the addition of a recreation/fitness pool is critical
to the Club’s ongoing sustainability. We have a continuing Regards,
downward trend in our membership levels with particular
emphasis on young families. The buying behaviors of this Pete Classen
group continually change and the best data suggests the Chair, Facilities Planning Committee
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