Portland Parks & Recreation has rolled out its preferred design for the North Portland Aquatic Center at Northgate Park and is asking neighbors to weigh in through a short public survey that closes at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3. The concept sketches outline a full‑service indoor facility built around a 35‑meter fast‑water lap pool, family and play features, and new paths and landscaping across the broader park. The release follows months of community engagement and comes on the heels of a neighborhood gathering earlier this month.
What the designs show
The preferred design leans heavily on daylight, accessibility and low‑carbon materials while aiming to keep interior views pleasant and glare‑free. Plans call for mass timber framing paired with low‑carbon concrete and a south‑facing rooftop photovoltaic array. Inside, the proposal includes an all‑users changing suite with private bathrooms and individual changing rooms. These features are shown and described in Portland Parks & Recreation's Facebook post about the design.
Survey, meeting and timeline
PP&R shared the preferred design at a community gathering last Tuesday at Roosevelt High School and posted the full presentation and comment form on its project page, which houses both the slide deck and the survey. The city notes that construction is anticipated to begin in 2027 and that the preferred design includes a 35‑meter fast‑water lap pool with expanded capacity for neighborhood swim lessons and competitive programming. According to Portland Parks & Recreation's project page, the online comment form will stay open until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3.
Site layout and neighborhood access
The site plan in the design materials shows about 87 public parking stalls, 23 employee spaces, six accessible stalls and three EV stalls. It also outlines two dedicated bus drop‑offs and a relocated bus stop on Fessenden to provide direct access to the main entrance. On the ground, the proposal adds a looped walking path, a new accessible sidewalk along Geneva, and an open lawn large enough for a high‑school‑length soccer field. A multi‑use pavilion appears as a potential add‑on if funding comes through. Those specific layout details are visible in Portland Parks & Recreation's design post.
Why this matters
North Portland has been without a nearby indoor public pool since Columbia Pool closed at the start of the pandemic, and planners say the new center is meant to boost access and water‑safety programs for communities that have been underserved. The project stems from repeated community engagement and early legislative and lottery funding that helped launch the effort, as noted in earlier reporting on the initiative.
For the full presentation and to complete the online survey, visit Portland Parks & Recreation's project page. The comment form will remain open through 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3.
