The Peninsula Outdoor Pool is temporarily closed and all recreation activities are canceled through September 2020. This date is subject to change.
All PP&R recreation activities are canceled through September 2020. This date is subject to change. For refund information, please visit our Parks Cancellations and Refunds page.
COVID-19 related information
Learn more about closures and postponements related to the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Peninsula Outdoor Pool Project
Recent Peninsula Pool improvements included an expanded shallow area for beginning swimmers that increased the pool’s capacity, pool and deck lighting, drainage and circulation systems, a high-efficiency filtration system, pumps, a new building on the deck to house the pool mechanical systems, and a new ADA lift and other ADA improvements.
Project Overview
Thanks to funding from the Parks Replacement Bond and System Development Charges, Peninsula Outdoor Pool received improvements including:
- Addition of pool and deck lighting to allow longer hours of operation
- Increased shallow area and squared-off pool corners to accommodate more swimmers
- Construction of new deck-level gutters
- Replacement of the drainage and circulation systems
- Replacement of the sand filtration system with a high-efficiency filtration system
- New pumps
- New building on the pool deck to house the pool mechanical systems
- Replacement of the ramp and pool deck to comply with ADA standards
- Addition of a new ADA lift
- New paint on pool shell
Work began in September 2018 after the end of the summer 2018 season, and the pool opened for the summer 2019 season on Monday, July 8, 2019.
Project Timeline
- Summer 2017 - March 2018: Design, Public Involvement, and Permitting
- April 2018 - August 2018: Bidding and Contracting
- September 2018 - Summer 2019: Construction
- July 8, 2019: Renovated pool opens for the summer season
Size in acres
Year acquired
History
Peninsula Pool was built to fill the need created by the Willamette River bath house closures, which were required due to increasing river pollution. As popular as the pool is with people, it also has a history of being enjoyed by Humboldt penguins.
In 1957, when the penguins were scheduled to make their debut at the Washington Park Zoo, the zoo's penguin facilities were not yet finished when the birds arrived from Antarctica. Peninsula Pool was used as a holding area until their own space was ready. In 1998, two ceramic tile murals created by artist George Johanson were installed on the south wall overlooking the pool deck. These colorful murals depict people enjoying the water at the beach and at a pool.