Make a Splash! Cranston’s New Budlong Aquatic Center Opens TODAY

Cranston has received final licensing just yesterday, after a weather delay, to open the “Budlong Pool” – and so it will be TODAY at noon.

Promoted as a Soft Opening, after a multi-year absence, with new staff in place and entirely new facilities, the first week or so will serve to introduce people to the pool and facilities – and to identify and make any changes that may have unexpectedly be needed, as much as possible.

Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins will conduct the opening with a short speaking program and ribbon cutting at 11:45am. Then the pool will open, FREE of charge, at NOON.

The Budlong Aquatic Center is located at 198 Aqueduct Road in Cranston. Coming in from Reservoir Avenue, turn into Aquaduct Road (at the Taco Bell and across from Spain Restaurant) and follow the road to the pool.

There is a water feature inside the shallow end of the pool plus a completely new splash pad on the grounds of the center.

Parking will be more convenient as the old basketball hoops have been removed and the area cleaned up for parking, which should alleviate the stress on neighborhood residents with cars parking in front of their homes on narrow streets.

The clubhouse has had its first floor renovated with access in the rear of the building for changing, showers and bathrooms. The second floor will be renovated in the future for office and training space.

Additional elements will more than likely be added as time goes by.

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For generations, Budlong Pool has been a place where children learned to swim, families gathered on hot summer days, and lifelong memories were made. After an extensive reconstruction, the new Budlong Aquatic Center is ready to welcome the community back with modern amenities, improved accessibility, and a renewed commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for residents of all ages.

Join Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins, city officials, project partners, and community members as we commemorate this exciting milestone with a ceremonial ribbon cutting and the reopening of this beloved community destination.

As this is a soft opening, admission will be free for Cranston residents throughout opening week. This provides families an opportunity to experience the new aquatic center while allowing our staff to fine-tune daily operations and ensure everything is running smoothly.

Budlong offers affordable options for residents and non-residents alike. Day and season pass rates are available for individuals, families, seniors, and veterans.

Hours of Operation

 The Budlong Aquatic Center is open during the summer season for recreational swimming and aquatic activities.

Daily Hours: Monday – Saturday | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

*Please note that operating hours may be adjusted due to weather, maintenance, special events, or staffing requirements.

Daily Admission Rates

• Children age 4 and under (accompanied by an adult): Free
• Cranston Resident Youth (Ages 5–17): $5
• Cranston Resident Adult (18+): $8
• Non-Resident Youth (Ages 5–17): $10
• Non-Resident Adult (18+): $15
• Seniors (55+) / Veterans: $5

The entire Aquatic Center will be CASHLESS – go HERE to purchase passes online:

https://www.cranstonri.gov/cranston-budlong-aquatic-center.aspx

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Aquatic Center Rules:

1. All patrons entering the facility MUST pay the full price of admission as established by the Parks and
Recreation Department. There are no refunds.

2. Children 8 years of age and under must be accompanied by a parent(s), guardian(s) or a competent person
at least 16 years of age. The adult must be directly always supervising the child. Children 5 years of age and
under (and any non-swimmers) must always be within arm’s reach of an adult.

3. ALL SWIMMERS MUST BE ATTIRED IN A SWIMSUIT! No thong bikinis or shorts with belts, no
jean/jean cut-offs, etc. are allowed.
a. Spectators may accompany a person dressed in a swimsuit into the pool area provided the spectators
remain behind the white line. Spectators dressed in street clothes are not allowed in the water.
b. Spectators must pay the regular admission fee.

4. All children wearing disposable or cloth diapers must have their diapers securely closed with a pair of
plastic pants that feature elastic leg and waist openings. Swim diapers are recommended. Please do not
change diapers on the pool deck.

5. Admission to the pool may be denied for any of the following reasons:
a. When it is apparent that the individual is physically or mentally unable to care for him/herself.
b. Intoxication or under the influence of drugs
c. Evidence of having an illness that could be contagious to other patrons
d. Open wounds or sore, including sores from sunburn
e. Any person whose admittance, in the opinion of the facility supervisor, would be detrimental to the safety
of patrons and operation of the pool.

6. All patrons must take a shower before entering the pool.

7. Abusive or profane language will not be permitted. Patrons participating in harassing and or/ violent
behavior will receive immediate disciplinary action. In addition, any patron possessing a weapon will be
denied admission and/or be asked to leave without refund. The Cranston Police Department will be called.

8. Smoking, other tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, and gambling are not permitted.

9. Glass bottles and containers of food are prohibited inside the pool compound. Only PLAIN water in plastic
bottles is allowed.

10. There will be no running, rough play, or fighting on the deck or in the water. Dunking, riding shoulders,
etc. is not allowed. Patrons are not allowed to throw other patrons into or across the water. Diving off
shoulders or hands of other patrons is not allowed.

11. Acts of physical affection are not permitted.

12. Back dives, somersaults, cannonballs, and can-openers from pool sides are not permitted. No diving is
permitted.

13. Swimmers must stay off the lap lane ropes and lifeguard stands.

14. Only certified approved flotation devices are allowed. No other types of flotation devices are permitted in
the pool, including floaties.

15. Only employees are permitted in the filter areas, mechanical rooms, storage rooms, etc.

16. Animals are not allowed inside the pool area

17. Aquatic Center staff may ask a person to demonstrate their swimming ability. Non-swimmers must be
directly supervised and within arm’s reach of an adult in the water.

18. Pool toys are prohibited.

19. Loud music boxes, cubes etc, can be used at a reasonable volume level. Music must be clean of all
profanity or any sexually explicit language. If music does not meet these guidelines, the person will be asked
to leave the facility.

20. Facility supervisors may eject and suspend people from the pool area for violation of the pool rules, not
following lifeguard instructions, harassment of lifeguards or supervisors, or any action detrimental to the safe
and orderly operation of the pool. In case of serious misconduct, the Cranston Police Department will be
called. In cases of children, parents will be notified.

21. The Aquatics Center Staff is not responsible for items that are lost, stolen, vandalized, or left unattended.
Baskets are provided, free of charge, to store personal items. The facility will maintain a “lost and found” for
any item that is returned or found after closing. These items will be logged in and if not claimed after 2
weeks, donated to a charitable organization.

INCLEMENT WEATHER/ POOL CLOSURES

The Budlong Aquatics Center may close from time to time, based on possible unsafe weather conditions or
situations, or when weather conditions are so poor that the likelihood of swimmers is very small. The closure
of the Center is at the discretion of the operating facility manager and of the Parks and Recreation Director.
The Budlong Aquatics Center may close, but is not limited to the following reasons:
1. The Center will be evacuated in the event of either thunder or lightning, as is recommended by the
American Red Cross and National Weather Service. The Center will remain empty for 30 minutes after the
last occurrence of thunder or lightning. The Center may close for the remainder of the day if the thunder or
lightning continues for one hour or more.
2. The Center will close under the following bad weather conditions, based on recommendations by the
American Red Cross, and on the low likelihood of swimmers:
a. If it is consistently raining for more than one hour, or hard enough the Lifeguard Staff are unable to clearly
see the bottom of the pool.
b. If either the temperature or wind chill factor is too low to support swimming.
3. At any time during the 30-minute evacuation period, patrons may ask for a hand stamp to return later in the
day. There are no refunds.

Photo, top, computer edited image