What you need to know about Portland’s new Rising Eddy Community Pool

 Portland's newly renovated Rising Eddy Community Pool, seen here Monday, is slated to reopen in the next few weeks, though an exact date hasn't been set yet. The facility will offer a number of new and improved amenities. (Teddy Almond/Staff Writer) Twenty-first century updates are coming to Portland’s newly renovated Rising Eddy Community Pool, which is expected to open around the beginning of July. Though city officials say they’re hoping to reopen the former Kiwanis Pool within the next month, an exact date still hasn’t been set. Portland runs three community pools that host a plethora of events throughout the year and are frequented by residents trying to beat the summer heat. [](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/08/portlands-riverton-pool-overhaul-will-take-another-1-5-million-to-complete/) Related [Portland’s Riverton pool overhaul will take another $1.5 million to complete](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/08/portlands-riverton-pool-overhaul-will-take-another-1-5-million-to-complete/) But since the former Kiwanis Pool closed for renovations in 2024, the only one open has been the Reiche Community Center’s, stretching its capacity. (The third, at the Riverton Community Center, has been closed since 2023 for [a lengthy renovation that has faced a number of setbacks](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/08/portlands-riverton-pool-overhaul-will-take-another-1-5-million-to-complete/).) The pending reopening of the Rising Eddy pool, at its same 165 Douglass St. home, is expected to alleviate some of that strain — and give residents an outdoor swimming spot for the summer. The new name of the pool, which first opened in 1961, came from a survey of city residents. Advertisement Here’s what you need to know about the pool ahead of its reopening. **What’s new at the pool?**  One of the biggest changes coming to the pool is a massive increase in capacity. The new facility will be able to accommodate 400 swimmers — four times the capacity of the old pool, [NewsCenter Maine reported](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/community/portland-breaks-ground-on-outdoor-pool-to-replace-aging-kiwanis-facility/97-e0d6ac5d-d943-41eb-aef7-0e605acfff63).  With the pool’s expanded capacity, the city will also need more lifeguards. To help recruit workers for that mostly seasonal job, the city introduced a program where prospective lifeguards pay for their training up front and are reimbursed after working a full season. [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/39134008_20240619_kiwanis-pool-1.jpg) People swim at the old Kiwanis Pool in Portland during a hot day in June 2024. The newly renovated pool has a much higher capacity. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2024%5C%2F10%5C%2F39134008_20240619_kiwanis-pool-1-1729613784.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22People%20swim%20at%20the%20old%20Kiwanis%20Pool%20in%20Portland%20during%20a%20hot%20day%20in%20June%202024.%20The%20newly%20renovated%20pool%20has%20a%20much%20higher%20capacity.%20%28Gregory%20Rec%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) While the Kiwanis Pool was a good option for Portlanders for the past six decades, it lacked many amenities, said Ethan Hipple, the city’s director of parks, recreation and facilities. “The new pool has areas where the community can gather and stay for the day, spreading out a blanket to enjoy the facility and meet their neighbors,” Hipple said. Other new features Hipple highlighted include: Advertisement * Enhanced locker rooms * An accessible area and easy entry for toddlers * Splash features in the pool * Dedicated lap lanes * Two water slides * A splash pad that’s designed to resemble the landscape of coastal Maine **How do I access the pool?** Like Portland’s other community pools, Rising Eddy will require patrons to purchase either a day pass or [a membership package option](https://portlandme.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30430) — which offers different prices for adults, seniors and families. Local nonprofit Maine Community Swimming has spearheaded efforts to build a fund that will ensure more equal access to the pool for people of all income levels. “As a nonprofit focused on water safety and access for all, we have been focused on raising funding to ensure that no one is turned away from the pool for financial reasons,” said the organization’s executive director, Brooke Teller.  [](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/08/a-photo-splash-of-nostalgia-1960s-community-pool-in-portland/) Related [A photo splash of nostalgia: 1960s community pool in Portland](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/08/a-photo-splash-of-nostalgia-1960s-community-pool-in-portland/) In addition to seeking donations, Maine Community Swimming hosted a documentary night back in April that raked in $2,000 for the fund.  When the Kiwanis Club was involved with the pool, the national service group covered the cost for kids and was billed based on attendance tracking, Teller explained. She anticipates that Maine Community Swimming will operate a similar initiative. The nonprofit is working with the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department on the logistics of tracking pool attendance and eventually disbursing the donated funds, Teller said.  Advertisement “Communities across the country have seen hundreds of public pools close, while private pools are only for those who can afford it,” Hipple said. “It’s extremely important that Portland and our surrounding communities offer access to low-cost community pools where people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can come together to learn to swim and have fun in the water. “Swimming is a lifelong skill that leads to increased water safety, fun and quality of life.” [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/RisingEddyPool-ALMOND-3.jpg) The newly renovated Rising Eddy Community Pool on Monday. (Teddy Almond/Staff Writer) What has the project’s timeline looked like? Construction crews broke ground on work at the pool in spring 2025. Early [predictions indicated that](https://engage.zencity.io/portland/en-US/projects/rising-eddy-community-pool-project) the pool would open sometime in late June, and Hipple says the project is on schedule. It’s also in line with its $12 million budget, he said.  When asked whether the city had a specific opening date in mind, Hipple said no date has been finalized, citing continued “moving pieces” within the project.  “The contractor is turning over the pool to us in the month of June, and then we are conducting mechanical and facility training for a few weeks and opening in early July,” Hipple said.  Copy the Story Link Tagged: [city of portland](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/city-of-portland/), [recreation](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/recreation/), [swimming](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/swimming/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/teddy-almond) [Teddy AlmondStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/teddy-almond) Teddy Almond is a rising junior at the University of Rochester from Madison, New Jersey, who last year served as news editor of The Campus Times. This summer, he is assisting with the Press Herald's breaking. [More by Teddy Almond](https://www.pressherald.com/author/teddy-almond)