Photo / Courtesy City of Portland
The Kiwanis Pool in Portland’s Libbytown neighborhood opened in 1961 but has outlasted its expected lifespan.
Updated: June 16, 2025
Portland's planned outdoor community pool will quadruple previous capacity
Rendering / Courtesy City of Portland
Key features of the planned pool include increased capacity, ADA access, enhanced recreational features and updated locker rooms.
The city of Portland and the Portland Parks Conservancy recently hosted a groundbreaking for Portland’s new outdoor community pool at 165 Douglass St.
The project marks the beginning of a redevelopment of the Kiwanis Pool site located at Dougherty Field in Portland’s Libbytown neighborhood,
Since opening in 1961, the Kiwanis Pool has been Portland’s only outdoor public swimming facility. Over the years, however, the facility has aged.
A public-private partnership resulted in development of a new pool as a modern, inclusive and accessible facility. Amenities will include a waterslide, splash pad, zero-grade entry for accessibility, a dedicated space for lap swimming and water walking, a concessions window, lawn area and improved layout for events like “Flick n’ Float” movie nights, according to a news release.
The facility will accommodate up to 400 users at a time, four times the previous capacity.
Located within a mile of approximately 20,000 Portlanders, including many low- and moderate-income residents, the pool’s location and low entry fees are designed to ensure access for all.
Financing
Through its capital improvement budget and American Rescue Plan Act dollars, the city allocated $6.5 million for the new pool based on an estimate from Counsilman-Hunsaker & Associates, an aquatic planning and design firm in Missouri.
However, a bidding process undertaken in the summer of 2024 revealed that costs would be almost double what had been budgeted. In response, several cost-saving measures were made that reduced the shortfall to $5.63 million.
The city appealed to the Portland Parks Conservancy, a longstanding partner, to help close the gap.
With key leadership from prominent local philanthropists and conservancy supporters Justin and Rachael Alfond, a private fundraising goal of $1 million was set.
With the private fundraising goal in place, the Portland City Council voted unanimously to approve an additional $4.63 million for the project.
Since October 2024, the conservancy has led the $1 million fundraiser, co-chaired by Rachael and Justin Alfond, and joined by other community leaders including former mayor Kate Snyder.
The campaign recently surpassed its goal thanks to contributions from over 100 individuals, families, foundations and businesses, including lead gifts from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, Rachael and Justin Alfond, Sam L. Cohen Foundation, Unum, Amazon, Cabin Foundation and several anonymous donors
Activities at the Kiwanis pool have included the city’s aquatics program, summer camps and swim teams.
Accessibility
In a time when nearly all pools are private, the pool has been a mainstay for the many Portlanders who are unable to access alternative nearby swimming opportunities.
First opened in 1961, Kiwanis Pool has outlasted its expected lifespan by several decades, with a number of closures for minor repairs occurring over the last few summers.
Since 2019, a vision has been prepared for a 21st century pool. Through outreach to pool stakeholders, a conceptual plan and budget was developed by Counsilman-Hunsaker.
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