Budlong Pool in Cranston closes for 4th consecutive year

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Budlong Pool in Cranston, one of the country’s largest outdoor pools, will be closed for the fourth consecutive year.

Budlong Pool first closed in 2020 because of the pandemic. In 2021, the pool’s reopening wasn’t included in Cranston’s budget.

Mayor Ken Hopkins said in 2022 the pool’s condition kept the pool closed.

Friday, Hopkins’ office told ABC 6 News an architect has made renderings for several options to renovate the pool. However, conversations remain over the price tag after several councilors raised concerns about some proposed prices.

Both the mayor and City Council are committed to reopening the pool, according to the mayor’s office.

Hopkins’ office is working on the budget and will be looking at how to best allocate the money to fund the pool.

In a statement to ABC 6, Robert Ferri, City Wide Council, said he’s “disappointed the pool is not opening” this year.

However, he said, “People have spoken and everyone wants to pool open and we should have taken the quickest path to getting it open.”

The city of Cranston has a $750,000 grant from the federal government, said Ferri and the mayor’s office.