UPDATE: There will be a press conference at Columbia Pool at 10am at Monday January 13, 2025. Neighbors and concerned citizens are encouraged to attend.
For generations, Columbia Pool has been more than just a place to swim—it has been a cornerstone of community health, safety, and connection for North Portland. As a lifelong resident and parent, I have experienced firsthand the devastating impact of its closure.
My oldest daughter Evie swam for Roosevelt High School’s team, then worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor at Columbia Pool. Her younger sister Kaylie joined a swim team when she was just seven. But my youngest children, Ellie and Blake, have never had the opportunity to learn to swim. The closure of Columbia Pool and the limited access to other public pools—combined with overcrowding and hour-long bus rides to reach them—make it almost impossible for families like mine to teach children this essential life skill.
During the summer, we’ve made the trek to Matt Dishman Pool, only to find it at capacity, with families turned away at the door. Public pools are stretched to their limits, especially in neighborhoods like ours, where community resources have always been scarce.
The closure of Columbia Pool isn’t just an inconvenience; it is a betrayal of North Portland’s families. In the 1970s, my grandmother fought to have the pool covered, providing North Portland with its first year-round swimming facility. Her advocacy helped create a space where kids learned lifesaving skills, teens became community leaders as lifeguards, and neighbors came together to build bonds.
Access to swimming pools isn’t just about recreation; it’s about equity and safety. Black and Latino children are far less likely to learn how to swim than their white peers, a disparity rooted in systemic exclusion. According to the CDC, Black children are 5.5 times more likely to drown than white children. Closing Columbia Pool makes addressing these disparities even harder.
Roosevelt High School, one of Oregon’s most diverse schools, now lacks a nearby training pool for its swim team. Students must ride a bus for an hour to practice—a barrier that would never be tolerated in wealthier, whiter neighborhoods.
It’s time for city leaders to honor their commitments to equity and community. If reopening Columbia Pool isn’t possible, then the city must expedite plans to break ground on a new aquatic center in North Portland. Anything less continues the pattern of systemic neglect that has plagued this community for decades.
This fight isn’t just about a pool—it’s about ensuring that every child in Portland, regardless of ZIP code, has access to the same opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Let’s honor the generations who fought for Columbia Pool and ensure that its legacy continues for the generations to come.
