Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Cranston council and public weigh three sites for new splash pad; no decision made
Loading...
Summary
At a Sept. 10 special meeting, Cranston City officials and residents discussed three potential locations for a splash pad — Budlong Pool/Complex, Cranston Stadium and Doric Avenue — and reviewed funding, infrastructure and staffing considerations. No formal vote was taken.
Cranston City Council members and residents on Sept. 10 discussed three candidate locations for a planned city splash pad and offered feedback to the administration; the council did not take a formal vote.
A city administration representative said the city has “approximately $250,000 of approved funds available” designated for construction and that the water-play features already were purchased with ARPA funds. The administration cautioned that construction bids could exceed that amount and that officials might return to the council if additional money is required.
Steve Piscopello, parks and recreation director, presented the splash pad rendering and said the planned design is age-inclusive. “The beauty of this splash pad will be that it’s for all ages,” Piscopello said, adding the layout can serve toddlers through early teens. He told the council the administration identified three possible locations for the installation: the Budlong Pool/Complex, Cranston Stadium (near the tennis courts) and a site on Doric Avenue. Piscopello listed practical factors to weigh: existing plumbing and water service, parking, restrooms and changing rooms, and whether a freestanding splash pad would require its own staffing versus being co‑located with an existing facility.
Council members and members of the public largely favored placing the splash pad at the Budlong Pool/Complex because it already has plumbing, changing rooms and lifeguard staff. Councilwoman Ryan (Ward 2) said she had advocated for Ward 2 and called Budlong “a whole complex, a pool, a splash pad, a walk in track.” Councilman Yep echoed that Budlong offered the most options for residents and asked whether changing rooms would be built at Doric or Cranston Stadium; Piscopello replied that standalone buildings would be required at freestanding sites and would increase cost.
Councilman Andoha said his ward is split and noted Cranston Stadium could also benefit from a splash pad; he suggested converting an unused concession stand into bathrooms if the stadium site were chosen. Several council members, including Campipiano and Benard, said they favored adding a splash pad at Budlong as part of the larger complex.
During public comment, two young residents, Frankie and Jojo Martins, urged the council to place the splash pad at Budlong Pool so campers and families can use both facilities. Kimberly Bogosian, a Cranston resident, said, “Cranston does not need a splash pad. Please open up the Budlong Pool.” Justin McCarthy, a Chestnut Avenue resident who said he was a lifeguard for eight years, told the council that locating the splash pad at Budlong would allow staff certified in rescue, first aid and CPR/AED to respond to scrapes, falls or other medical issues and would leverage existing plumbing and changing-room infrastructure.
No formal site selection or vote occurred at the meeting. Council President Wahl opened the floor for comment, collected input from council members and the public, and asked for a motion to adjourn; the motion carried and the meeting was closed. The administration will consider council and public feedback and may return with recommendations and bid results if construction estimates exceed the available funds.
Ending: The council provided informal feedback and public input but took no formal action on a site. Next steps announced at the meeting included further evaluation by the administration and potential return to the council if additional funding is required or if bids exceed the identified funds.
