Senator John F. McKeon, in partnership with the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation, announced today that the second-ever Stewie the Duck Swim School is set to open its doors in Clifton in fall 2025.
Funded in part through a $300,000 grant from the FY2025 New Jersey State Budget, the new 9,300-square-foot, state-of-the-art aquatic center will be located at the Styertowne Shopping Center, adjacent to Stew Leonard’s Farm Fresh Food & Wine.
“This swim school represents far more than bricks and mortar — it is about saving lives,” said Senator McKeon. “I am proud to have secured funding for this critically important facility that will provide thousands of New Jersey children with access to professional, high-quality water safety education.”
The swim school is a project of the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation, which was established by Kim and Stew Leonard in memory of their 21-month-old son who tragically drowned in 1989. Guided by its mission of “Saving lives, one lesson at a time,” the Foundation has spent more than three decades championing water safety through education, advocacy and support for swim safety initiatives nationwide.
Ryann Leonard, executive director of the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation and daughter of Stew Leonard’s CEO, shared, “My family lost my brother Stewie in a drowning accident 36 years ago, and since then we have dedicated our lives to helping prevent these tragedies. This new swim school in Clifton will allow us to double our impact — serving up to 2,000 children each week — and we are deeply grateful to Senator McKeon and the City of Clifton for making this possible.”
Clifton Mayor Raymond Grabowski praised the partnership, stating, “We’re honored to be the home of the country’s second Stewie the Duck Swim School and stand beside a family whose compassion and commitment to water safety will provide life-saving opportunities for children and families who may not have had the opportunity otherwise. The City of Clifton welcomes the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation and is deeply grateful for their decision to invest in our community. This swim school builds on Stew Leonard’s legacy of making a positive impact across the Tri-State Area, and we’re eager to support that great cause right here in Clifton.”
The Clifton location will mirror its successful sister school in Norwalk, Connecticut, with 100% of net proceeds donated back to the Foundation to provide swim lessons for underserved children and lifeguard training nationwide. In New Jersey, the Foundation has already supported programs at numerous YMCAs, schools and community swim centers.
Each of the swim school’s instructors and lifeguards will be American Red Cross certified in Lifeguard Training and as WSIs™ (Water Safety Instructors). Upon hire, they will complete extensive in-service training and repeat it monthly to ensure excellence in lesson quality and water safety. Students will follow an American Red Cross curriculum focused on water safety and swimming skills, with classes ranging from Parent & Child to Pre-Swim Team.
The facility will feature:
- A heated, 4-foot-deep pool with filtration and air systems
- An ADA-compliant chair lift
- Private changing rooms, family restrooms and on-site amenities
- A fun, farm-themed design inspired by Stew Leonard’s, including a wind tunnel to dry off young swimmers, an animatronic Stewie the Duck and colorful visuals from the “Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim” book
To learn more about Stewie the Duck Swim School, please visit stewietheduck.org/Clifton.
