Update: Public Pools in Providence, Warwick, Pawtucket, Cranston

July 8, 2021/RINewsToday

While we have the Pawtucket Police officers and Firefighters rushing to partner with the community by becoming certified lifeguards, and open the Veterans Pool in the Fairlawn section which is ready to go, but for the necessity of lifeguards, we check in with Providence and Warwick.

Pawtucket is still recruiting lifeguards from the community, and Ray Rickman of Stages of Freedom has stepped forward with an offer of $4/hour additional pay to work and finish the season, and with the addition of public safety officials who have many of the qualifications to pass lifeguard certification, the pool is expected to be open in two weeks or less.

In Warwick, the Mayor’s office has provided an update which is also offering hope of a quick return to summer fun. In a statement from Mayor Picozzi’s Media Coordinator, “at last check, there is a complicated electrical issue with the McDermott Pool. Crews are working on it and it should be solved by the end of the week. They are getting the balance of chemicals on target. The Mayor is confident the McDermott Pool will be open by the end of this month.

Cranston’s pool is not expected to open this year due to refurbishing that must be done after it was closed for 2 years.

In Providence, the story focuses, as it has over the last 7 years, on the drama over the opening of the Davey Lopes Pool. Pools that are open are:

Providence outdoor pools opening on July 6 include:

McGrane Pool, West End Rec Center, 404 Dexter St

Al Magno Pool, Neutaconkanut Rec Center, 675 Plainfield Street

Selim Madelin Rogers Rec Center Pool, 60 Camden Ave.

Zuccolo Rec Center Pool, 18 Gesler Street

Buses from the Davey Lopes Pool, closed for now, will be available for transport to the four open pools in the city.

The city has undergone a reconstruction of the pool, at the start of the summer season. When asked about a “shallowing” of the pool, the city has denied this is happening, though some others have said the pool is being leveled to four feet. Mayor Elorza’s statement, on Wednesday, is: “The City has been working with the State to bring the pool up to code compliance. This includes replacing pipes after the City discovered eroded pipes, removing fencing within and surrounding the pool and creating a slope to the deep end that prior only had a dramatic drop”.

Community advocates pick up the torch for the children

Ray Rickman with Stages of Freedom and community advocate, Leah Williams Metts, had a ZOOM meeting with the Mayor and he assured them he would see what he could do to stop construction for this year and open the pool so as not to miss the summer season. Mayor Elorza promised a follow-up decision would come TODAY.

Response from Senator Tiara Mack & Representative Anastasia Williams:

Rep. Mack was contacted for a comment about the status of the pool and continuing problems in getting the pool open, after sending to her Senate email the stories that have been done by RINewsToday. She asked us to text her and her response was “Do you have any specific questions about the pool? Thanks for reaching out. I won’t have capacity to help with this story today… please feel free to reach out in the future.”

Rep. Williams was contacted on her Representative email and on Twitter. She responded, “Thank you for reaching out on this very important matter. I have reached out to the City’s administration Department in charge of the Recreation Centers three days ago and have not heard back. However, as I responded to a comment/inquiry from RINewsToday on tweeter on this very same matter, “They do to us what WE allow them to do to us, Year after Year we deal with the same summer issue and more” Our children continuously pay the price and our communities deserve better.” – Rep. Williams