Pa. swim club accused of discriminating against black children is sold at bankruptcy auction

Pa. swim club accused of race bias sold at auction

PHILADELPHIA — A private suburban Philadelphia swim club accused of racial discrimination has been sold at a bankruptcy auction.

The Huntingdon Valley-based Valley Club was sold for $1.46 million Thursday. The club had filed for bankruptcy in November following discrimination lawsuits and a critical state report.

The gated club sits on a leafy hillside in a village straddling two overwhelmingly white townships. Last summer it revoked the memberships of 56 mostly black and Hispanic day campers, saying there were too many children and many couldn’t swim. It said the decision was made out of safety considerations and race had nothing to do with it.

The club’s bankruptcy trustee says once the sale is cleared by the court the money will be parceled out to the claimants.

Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, www.philly.com