New Budlong Pool: Cranston DPW sets public meeting on ways to recognize its history

The new Budlong Pool in Cranston will soon (but never soon enough) open (2025) with a tip of its hat to the past, to the work and workers of the WPA, to History, and to historic preservation. The Budlong Pool, located at 198 Aqueduct Road, off Reservoir Avenue is the city’s only outdoor public pool. Bigger than two Olympic-sized swimming pools, the pool was built in the 1930s as a Works Progress Administration project. The pool was closed in 2019 after an architect’s report stated that the pool was “close to the end of its serviceable life”. During the pandemic years, the pool stayed closed without renovations, and when it came time to reopen the pool, it was deemed after several professional reviews to be beyond repair, and in need of a new design to address the way people use a public pool in contemporary times.

As many public projects go, the Budlong Pool has become the focal point of political rivalries and rabble-rousing in the community. One group wants the pool “fixed” or rebuilt to look exactly as it was, regardless of more than 50% over the cost of a somewhat smaller, ADA compliant with sloped entrances, more contemporary pool with lap lanes and a shaded center area. Currently the pool has no ADA accessible entrances, and is in full sun with a small sitting area inside a rusted chainlink fence. The pool house is full of mold and in a bad state of disrepair. The new plans call for renovating and enlarging the pool house while keeping the historic facade.

Preserving History – Meeting set by Cranston DPW

The re-do of the pool required an opinion on its historical nature and possible preservation. Information was sent to the RI Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC), which resulted in a letter to the city – see below. In that letter the Commission agreed that the pool can’t be retained as it is, but something should be incorporated to commemorate its unique and historical significance.

Key parts of the letter:“Based upon our review of the provided information, the RIHPHC concurs that the retention of the current pool or the replacement in-kind is neither prudent nor feasible – therefore, the adverse effect cannot be avoided. The City proposes to mitigate the adverse effect through (1) preserving the exterior of the pool house, (2) adding appropriate signage to the pool house, (3) demarcating the boundary of the historic pool through granite markers at the corners, and (4) installing educational interpretive displays to “relay images of the former pool and stats” on site.“

Public Meeting Notice – Budlong Pool Historic Consultation

The Cranston Department of Public Works is hosting a public meeting on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 1070 Cranston St, the Senior Services Department, from 5PM to 7PM.

In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s section 106 process, the City welcomes members of the public to express their ideas on how best to recognize and honor the historic nature of the Budlong Pool in the Pool House Renovation project.

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The pool study done by the Federal Hill Group Architects in 2022:

In 2023, Mayor Hopkins presented a report at the 18th meeting before the Cranston community. It was done with consultation with Weston and Sampson, Saccoccio and Associates, and others:

At the meeting, several members of the audience spoke and there was a lively Q&A and ZOOM opportunity with professionals from Weston and Sampson and Saccoccio present.

View the entire meeting, here:

Here is Mayor Hopkins presentation:

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To review stories done by RINewsToday on the Budlong Pool go to:

https://rinewstoday.com/?s=budlong+pool

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