POSTED OCTOBER 19, 2016
(Portland, OR) –
Portland Parks & Recreation’s Matt Dishman Pool Reopening Celebration on October 21
What: A free community celebration for the grand reopening of PP&R’s Matt Dishman Community Center pool, the second completed Parks Replacement Bond project.
Where: Matt Dishman Community Center (MDCC), 77 NE Knott St. Parking is limited, please allow time to park nearby.
When: Friday, October 21, 6:00pm-8:00pm
All are welcome to join Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz, Portland Parks & Recreation Service Manager Eileen Argentina, new MDCC Director Amourie Downing, neighbors and friends to celebrate the grand reopening of the Matt Dishman Community Center’s pool.
Portland Parks & Recreation is pleased to announce that Matt Dishman Community Center’s pool has re-opened,following a temporary closure for major renovations.This Parks Replacement Bond construction project began in late August 2016 and involved repairs and overhauls to major mechanical systems and pool materials, as well as doubling the capacity of the spa (which will reopen soon!) to accommodate 20 people. The old spa had been leaking 1,000 gallons of water per day.
Thanks to overwhelming voter support of the Parks Replacement Bond, PP&R was able to complete the project at Matt Dishman Community Center, the second of many other Bond projects citywide. Parks Replacement Bond projects are repairing some of the most critical components of the City’s park system. In addition to repair and replacement work on the pool, work was also completed on the spa and the spa capacity was expanded. Funding for the expansion of the spa’s capacity came from PP&R System Development Charges, or SDCs (revenue from construction development in the city, rather than General Fund tax dollars or Bond funds).
The project at Matt Dishman included repairs and replacement of major swimming pool components to address gaps behind the plaster and cracks underneath the pool floor. The three existing fiberglass sand filters for the pool have also been replaced with a single, high-efficiency filter.
A new, larger spa is in place which can serve up to 20 users, and will be in service in the near future. Mechanical systems including piping, filters, chemical controllers, and chlorine systems were replaced, and a new ultra-violet filtering system has been added.
“For years, our staff did the best they could to keep the pool running, despite the crumbling infrastructure,” says Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “But patchwork repairs to old equipment that had exceeded its useful life was simply no longer viable. This Bond-funded project ensures that the Matt Dishman pool and spa will continue to be community assets. We again thank Portland voters for their overwhelming support for the Parks Replacement Bond, which made this important project possible.”
Nearly 20 more Parks Replacement Bond projects will be breaking ground in the next year.
“It is so gratifying to see Matt Dishman’s gleaming new pool and spa, amenities which offer so much to so many visitors,” says Portland Parks & Recreation Director Mike Abbaté. “The pool is a treasured asset for the community, and we thank all Portlanders for backing the Parks Replacement Bond. This, and the many other Bond projects underway, help us to provide places for recreation, health, and livability, which are at the core of our mission.”
The Matt Dishman Pool schedule can be found on PP&R’s website or by calling 503-823-3673. Recreational swimming, swim lessons, and fitness classes are all available again.
About the Parks Replacement Bond
The Parks Replacement Bond was passed with the support of over 74% of voters in November 2014. Its primary focus is on repair and replacement of the most critical needs in the parks system. The total bond is for $68 million, and work has begun on the first list of 33 Bond projects citywide.
More help is needed to close the play gap
Portland Parks & Recreation remains grateful to Portland voters for the $68 million Parks Replacement Bond, which takes aim at a $248M funding gap for major maintenance needs over the next ten years. Further, PP&R anticipates $472M in unfunded growth needs during that period. That adds up to a $720M funding gap over the next decade, which Commissioner Fritz will continue to work with City Council to address. Currently, 20% of people living in Portland do NOT have access to a park or natural area within a 15-minute walk, and the bureau is working hard to close this “play gap”. PP&R data show that pools are one of the bureau’s most widely utilized features, and we recognize their importance to the community.
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