Mayor Hopkins to hold meeting on the future of the Budlong Pool

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins said he and city officials will hold a public meeting to address the plans for the Budlong Pool, which has been closed for four summers.

The pool first closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the reopening wasn’t included in the city budget.

The poor condition of the pool delayed the reopening further last year.

“As my administration promised, we will hold a public briefing for the members of the public and City Council on why the substantial physical and operational problems and the quick fix band aid approaches of the past are no longer a realistic or proper alternative to re-open the Budlong Pool,” Hopkins said.

It’s considered one of the country’s largest outdoor pools.

Hopkins said in March that “no public structure lasts forever” and that the reopening will be a restoration process.

He noted the meeting will go over the plans for how to make the pool safer and able to last for decades.

The city has funding in place to modernize the pool. Hopkins said the city will soon take construction bids for the project.

The meeting will be held on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Cranston High School East auditorium.