Cranston Cancels 2020 Summer Recreation Programs

CRANSTON, RI — The Cranston Parks and Recreation Department has canceled all summer programming this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the Budlong Pool will not open this summer, by order of Mayor Allan Fung.

"Many children, parents and staff members look forward to the summer that is spent with friends, old and new, and engaged in new experiences each day," Fung said. "It is heartbreaking to not be able to gather in the ways we have previously and hope to be able to offer these programs again next summer."

The department made the "difficult decision" to cancel playground, arts and crafts, Tennis and living arts programs because it would be difficult to meet the safety standards set by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

"Unfortunately, we determined that the city could not run our programs to the quality that our residents have come to expect and deserve," the department said.

To meet the safety standards, summer camp groups would be reduced to 15 people including counselors, and there would be no field trips to Budlong Pool and other fun activities. In addition, the department was unsure how to effectively hold programs on rainy days or air quality alert days.

"Summer is a time to make new friends and have new experiences," Parks and Rec Director Tony Liberatore said. "Unfortunately, at this time of social distancing, Parks and Recreation would not be able to put together programming that encourages those attributes in any way close to what we have been able to do in the past. "