By Anthony Rifilato and Rachel Block
As a kid, Kaplan said he remembers the days spent playing Marco Polo in the pool, the balmy nights watching outdoor movies like "Yellow Submarine" and later, as a lifeguard, the lifelong friendships he made.
For many residents, Kaplan said, Oakwood was more than just a local pool: It was where the community came together.
"We didn't go to camp then, and that's where everyone congregated, at the beach club," said Kaplan, a lifelong Baldwin resident and a computer and math teacher at Nassau Community College. "Everyone stayed local. Some of these people have known me since I was 2. It's part of the community and for me, it's very special."
It is those memorable experiences that Kaplan and other members of Oakwood are hoping to pass on to a new generation of families and kids. What was once an exclusive respite for residents who lived near the beach club was opened to the public roughly 10-years ago, Kaplan said. Now, younger members are hoping to spur an increase in membership by offering a slew of new amenities, while at the same time keeping many of the traditions that the club is known for.
Not only does one have a picturesque view of Baldwin Harbor at Oakwood, but there are also amenities and activities that for years had been mostly enjoyed by members of an exclusive beach club. Not anymore; at Oakwood, there have been some pretty big changes in recent years, and with a growing thirst for more nightlife and summertime activities in Baldwin, members said Oakwood is, in some way, looking to quench that thirst. It is, members said, Baldwin's best kept secret.
"We want to drive some interest in the club," said Karen Leonard, the club's president. "If people can come and see the view and what we have to offer, I think we can draw more members."
The beach club kicked off its current season on June 9 and will remain open until Sept. 9. Now, for the first time since opening 45 years ago, the club is opening its cash bar to non-members on Friday nights - with a $2 charge at the gate - between 6 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., in an attempt to draw new members, Leonard and others said. Leonard said that along with opening the bar to the public, on Friday nights there is a DJ, in addition to special events and theme parties - such as Founder's Day and the recent Tea Party held a few weeks ago - while Vincent's Restaurant & Pizzeria hosts the concession stand.
"I think it's a great thing, it draws people together," said Kaplan, who is married with children of his own now. "Even people who aren't drinkers, people still sit and talk."
But does the festive atmosphere disturb the neighbors in this idyllic community? Leonard and others said it does not.
"It's a really congenial atmosphere," Leonard said. "We're very aware of being good neighbors."
Know your neighbors
There are roughly 200 families that belong to Oakwood, and membership is open to the entire Baldwin community - and surrounding areas like Oceanside - for a membership fee, of course, which runs at $600 for first-time members and $750 for returning members. Single senior citizen members pay $425, and there are family memberships available as well.
Members are allowed to bring guests, who are required to pay an entrance fee of $7 on weekdays and $10 on weekends, with a reduced price for children under 15.
For residents like Kaplan, who have been Oakwood members for practically their entire lives, the beach club has become a crucial component of their summers. Otto's and the vibrant lights of Freeport's Nautical Mile can be seen from across Baldwin Harbor. So can Island Park and Point Lookout, where, on July 1, members gathered to watch the fireworks illuminate the harbor.
"For me, it's more than the pool, the concession or the bar - it's part of the community. It's been here longer than I have," Kaplan said. "We're bringing back the cherished memories that we have and trying to pass them on to our children."
The beach club had its debut in the summer of 1962, a time when there was a two-to-three year waiting list for membership, and was only open to families who lived nearby. Members came together to swim in a secluded, roped-off area in the bay, and there was a floating dock that was used for diving.
Today, however, swimming is limited to the pool due to the bay's erosion and protected wetlands. Nonetheless, members enjoy the view of the beach and water, taking full advantage of the pool, which has a diving board and water slide, along with a lap lane. There's a kiddy pool as well.
"There's been a lot of kid activities in the last couple of years," Kaplan said. "Obviously, as the children grew up, there's an influx of younger families with younger children, and we started to cater to younger kids."
Oakwood offers many special daytime and evening activities, such as "Family Olympics," barbecues, movie nights, and a talent show. "It's just events to get the kids involved, and parents love it when their kids are having a good time," Leonard said.
Kids also enjoy playing in a sanded area and playground, while the adults also get to use the basketball hoops and volleyball net.
On July 28, Oakwood is having a special event - R&B soul band Empro Express will perform - which has created a buzz, members said. "They have a big local following so I think it will be a great turnout," Leonard said.
It is events like those, Leonard and others agreed, that give members a chance to meet their neighbors.
"I asked my students once, how many names do you know of your next door neighbors," Kaplan said. "They thought about it, and they don't know their neighbors. Here at the beach club, you begin to know each other."
