The Budlong Pool Can’t Wait to Welcome Cranston Back – Opening Set

What’s new and blue and cool — and waiting for YOU? The Budlong Pool, that’s who!

Pardon our glee at being able to announce this, but we have done more than our yeoman’s share of “what’s happening with the Budlong Pool?” articles — along with plenty of “when will people stop fighting over it?” updates — as delay followed delay followed delay.

By our count, RINewsToday has published more than 40 articles covering the ins and outs of planning, restoring and reopening this iconic Rhode Island fixture.

And since we are based in Cranston, well — this is “our pool,” too, we guess!

So here is what it’s looking like over at Budlong, almost ready, courtesy of Niagara Pool Filling to RINewsToday:

A few days ago, we ran right into this huge water truck on a small side street and wondered who had a pool big enough to need such a large delivery.

Only to learn it was winding through the side roads right to — Budlong Pool.

From Don Parsons at Niagara Pool Filling:

“We were working very closely with Frank who is the director of public works over the last month, we were very happy to help out the City of Cranston and its residents in such a historic occasion.

We didn’t know the Budlong pool has been such a hot topic until we witnessed what seemed to be 100s of cars stop by and drive thru the lot and take photos. This is a really beautiful pool and it makes me wish I lived in Cranston.

In a world of so much negativity I hope this brings a positive outlook on anyone who had doubts of the completion of the pool.”

The clubhouse is done, with some additions planned for later. Landscaping is being completed now. Dozens of workers are involved in final preparations. And the sun is planning to do its job, too — warming things up.

The pool has been redesigned to be more user-friendly for the way people use pools today. The broken pipe underneath has been fixed, and the project is now 100% new construction — not patched and bandaged together as it had been for many years before.

More work will continue to make the surrounding area as delightful as the pool itself now looks.

More than 21 City Council and feisty community meetings — hashing out every design and cost detail — took their toll on the joy of Budlong Pool. But we expect all of that will be put aside now as it opens to the squeals and delight of the whole community.

Budlong Pool is set to open, if all goes as planned, on Wednesday, July 8th. Hours are still to be determined, as are rules, attendance limits, costs and other details.

But stay tuned — we will update this just as soon as details are known. Cranston will be updating their website with all details soon – keep checking back and we’ll update on the details, too.

Look for our update!

P.S. The Splash Pad near Bain, on Oak Street, opens tomorrow!