City residents can now exercise, frolic, or just chill out in one of the five newly opened pools, including the one at the Davey Lopes Recreation Center which looks fantastic following necessary repairs and upgrades.
The Davey Lopes Recreation Center Pool temporarily closed in 2021 to undergo compliance and construction repairs, which are now complete and maintain a deep end in the pool. Additional renovations to the Davey Lopes Recreation Center Pool include a refinished pool surface, painted lanes and pool signage, renovated drainage and new benches, as well as the installation of public art.
The Providence Recreation Department maintains pools at five locations:
- Davey Lopes Recreation Center Pool, 227 Dudley Street
- McGrane Pool at West End Recreation Center, 404 Dexter Street
- Al Magno Pool at Neutaconkanut Recreation Center, 675 Plainfield Street
- Selim Madelin Rogers Recreation Center Pool, 60 Camden Avenue
- A. Vincent Igliozzi Recreation Center Pool, 18 Gesler Street
Younger residents may be unfamiliar with the Davey Lopes name, but he was a huge deal in major league baseball.
In 1972, Lopes debuted at second base for the Dodgers, playing there for nine seasons. He went on to play for Oakland, the Cubs, and the Astros, and later managed the Milwaukee Brewers. A graduate of LaSalle Academy, Lopes was a particular source of pride to the Cape Verdean community but also everybody else. Following his retirement as a player Lopes went on to coach.
Born in East Providence, Lopes retired from coaching following the 2017 season. He turned 77 in May.