A photo splash of nostalgia: 1960s community pool in Portland

Portland’s Long‑Standing Community Pool Gets a New Splash

Portland’s Kiwanis Community Pool, a summer staple for children and families since the early 1960s, was finally replaced this past year by a brand‑new aquatic center. The original structure, which opened in 1961 on Douglass Street in the Libbytown neighborhood, served the city for 63 years before closing in 2024 and being demolished in 2025. The new Rising Eddy Community Pool now stands on the same 165 Douglass St. site and is slated to open for the July 4 weekend, with a full grand opening expected in 2026.

From the Past to the Future

The Kiwanis Community Pool was a familiar sight in Portland’s summer heat. Historical photographs from the Evening Express and the Portland Press Herald show children and adults gathering at the pool in 1962 and 1963, a scene that was both a rite of passage and a community gathering point. For more than six decades, the pool offered a place for kids to cool off and for parents to watch them splash.

As the facility aged and modern safety and accessibility standards evolved, the city and the Kiwanis club decided that a replacement was necessary. The old pool was officially closed in 2024, and demolition began in 2025. The new construction project, announced in early 2025, was given a fresh name—Rising Eddy Community Pool—to signal a new era for Portland’s aquatic recreation.

The New Pool’s Features

The Rising Eddy Community Pool will bring a host of amenities that were absent from the old site:

• A splash pad for younger children
• Two waterslides for added excitement
• Dedicated lap lanes for serious swimmers
• A wheelchair‑accessible entry, making it one of the city’s first fully inclusive pools

Construction kicked off on June 6, 2025, and the project is progressing on schedule. According to city officials, the July 4 opening will provide a preview for residents and allow a few early swims before the full launch in 2026.

A Community Asset

“This is more than a new pool,” said a spokesperson for the Portland Kiwanis club. “It’s a continuation of a tradition that has brought generations of Portlanders together, and it will do so with modern features that ensure safety, accessibility, and fun for everyone.”

The project has been met with enthusiasm from the Libbytown community, which has watched the site transform from a mid‑century swimming hub into a cutting‑edge aquatic facility. The Rising Eddy Community Pool will be the first new public pool in Portland in over 50 years.

Looking Ahead

As residents anticipate the first swims in the new pool, the city is also using the opening as an opportunity to promote water safety programs and summer recreation plans. The final grand opening is scheduled for 2026, after the pool’s systems are fully tested and staff are trained.

With a history rooted in the 1960s and a bright future ahead, the new Rising Eddy Community Pool promises to carry Portland’s tradition of summertime fun into a new era of accessibility and excitement.