PP&R Announces Planned Demolition of Columbia Indoor Pool
Safety assessment deemed continued operation is unsafe
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) announces that Columbia Pool, a cherished community gathering space in North Portland since 1930, is scheduled for demolition later this year. A specific demolition date will be announced once final permitting and contractor timelines are confirmed.
Columbia Pool served generations of Portlanders for more than nine decades. It was far more than a recreational facility, it was a place where families bonded, neighbors connected, and countless young swimmers learned skills that lasted a lifetime. Lessons, memories, and relationships formed at Columbia Pool continue to echo through the community long after its doors closed.
The pool was temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and permanently shuttered in 2022 after an independent structural engineering inspection identified severe life and safety hazards and significant deterioration. The assessment showed that the building had reached the end of its useful life, and the structural issues were beyond repair. PP&R had conducted regular roof inspections since 2008 and internal quarterly reviews, but the safety assessment made it clear that continued operation was unsafe.
In March 2025, Mayor Keith Wilson directed a one-year pause on demolition at the request of District 2 Councilors, allowing time for PP&R to explore alternatives. During this pause, PP&R commissioned Convergence Architecture, based in St. Johns, to lead a multidisciplinary feasibility study on reopening Columbia Pool as an outdoor, seasonal-use facility. The assessment team included civil and structural engineers, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers, aquatic specialists, and professional cost estimators.
The parks bureau worked closely with the Mayor’s Office and District 2 Councilors to find a path forward. Ultimately, securing the resources necessary to fund the reopening or reconfiguring of the facility was not viable.
The planned demolition underscores the broader challenges PP&R faces in maintaining the city’s park and recreation infrastructure. PP&R currently carries an estimated $759 million major maintenance backlog systemwide. Without sustainable long-term funding, Portland risks losing additional community assets over the next 15 years.
A new and better facility is coming to North Portland. Planning and design work for PP&R’s indoor, full-service North Portland Aquatic Center continue. We expect construction to begin in 2027.
The project goals are to create a beautiful, durable, equitable, and state-of-the-art aquatic center that is inclusive of all Portlanders, promote equity by reducing barriers to access and providing a safe, welcoming environment for everyone, and expand the types of aquatic programming offered by Portland Parks & Recreation.
Balance high-performance sustainability aspirations with long-term operational success.
