Cranston Dives into Summer: Budlong Pool Opens for Season

CRANSTON, RI—The weather couldn't have been more perfect for opening day at Budlong Pool on Friday.

The warm late-June sun brightened the blue sky but the cold, vast expanse of glittering water at this community pool was even bluer.

Head Lifeguard Stephanie Parrillo surveyed the water. She's worked at the pool for four years. Three as head lifeguard. Why does she keep coming back?

"It's the kids," she said as Cranston children splashed and jumped into the pool behind her. She said a large swath of the pool will be filled with children and they call it the kid corner.

"They come from all over," Parrillo said. "You've got people from Western Cranston that I know, all the kids that go to Bain and Park View come, they're all there and we know every single one of them and it's great."

The Budlong Pool is a Cranston institution and has been a summer oasis for sweaty kids and boiling over parents for generations.

It's one of the largest outdoor public pools in the country and takes more than a million gallons to fill.

“For more than sixty years, Budlong Pool has been a cornerstone of the city’s commitment to providing top quality recreational activities for Cranston families,” said Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung, who came to greet young swimmers and give them a countdown to leap into the deep end, which has become an annual tradition for the mayor.

Fung himself has memories of the pool as a child growing up in Cranston, including the tall diving board that no longer exists. While some things might have changed, safety is always a priority, the mayor said.

"Safety is a priority and we have enough staff here to make sure kids are going to have fun in a safe environment," Fung said.

All lifeguards have been trained and no corner of the pool is out of eyeshot. And Parrillo said that while the crew is a group of friends, they take the job seriously.

"Last year, we got really close," she said. "All the kids under me are [younger] and being the oldest one, it's my job to show that we can have fun at work in a professional way."

The pool is operated by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. Its leader, Tony Liberatore, is known to be a stickler for not taking shortcuts.

"He's a great boss," Parrillo said with a smile. "You've got to make sure it's the way he wants it, and as long as you do that, everything is great."

Along with offering a place to cool off, the Budlong Pool hosts swim lessons. Demand has been strong this year.

The pool is now open until mid-August. Season passes can be purchased on site. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. daily. Pool staff can be reached at 401-383-3105.