Is swimming at all common within Portland? (Salem, McMinnville: waterpark, high school)

[Sunderpig2]

I searched the forum, but didn't see much to go by. I'm curious if there are many swimming pools around Portland, and how infrequent or frequent they are used.

I.e. in a typical summer, roughly how many days might a person be able to go swimming at a public pool, with the temperatures being moderate enough to handle?

[Urbanlover85]

I've often wondered that too. And come to think of it, I haven't once seen an outdoor swimming pool since I moved here. But it's easy to forget that pool weather in Portland is short lived and most of the year the weather is not conducive to being outdoors in a swimming suit.

[sayulita]

I'm by no means an expert on this, but my take is that most pools in Portland are indoors, heated, generally in health clubs and used year around. For hot weather swimming, I'd guess that folks that do go swimming have a favorite spot on a river or lake somewhere.
I'm sure others with more knowledge about this will chime in.

[sharkylittleton]

Swimming is popular at Sauvie Island in the Columbia river. Closest we have to a beach lifestyle during the warmer months.

[Urbanlover85]

I just realized I didn't really answer your question in my previous post. I'd say we probably get less than a months worth of consecutive warm sunny days that would qualify as pool weather so, no, you don't see many outdoor pools here. But this is only my second Portland summer so maybe a more established resident can provide you with a better answer. On a related note, I did go swimming in the Willamette on Sauvie Island yesterday! The water was chilly but it was bearable. Supposedly the Willamette is toxic but not TOO toxic to not swim in. Haha

[EnricoV]

My family has always had an pool of some sort in their yard (above ground back in the earlier, poorer days). They usually open it by the 4th of July, and keep it open until into September. And it gets used daily.

When I was young, we took lessons at an outdoor pool at Milwaukie Jr. High -- which since has been replaced by the Water Park. Sellwood Pool was another favorite place to visit from my youth.

[wanderbygrace]

Sellwood has an outdoor pool, and it's heated (84 degrees).

All the other ones that I've come into contact w/since being here (Dallas, McMinnville, Milwaukie) are indoors, along w/the new waterpark in McMinnville.

None of them were that pricey, though - that was nice! And all of the indoor ones had more features than just a pool - e.g. waterslide, lazy river, etc. Definitely cooler than back in Ohio, where it's usually just a pool, inside.

[AztoORegon]

My best friend lives in Salem and they have an Indoor area with water slides and pools and lazy rivers. So I assume people go there too. Sorry I forgot the name of the place

[Minervah]

I was trying to remember the name of the park on Powell that has one so I GOOGLED it and found these.

Swim Pools

[roneb]

In addition to the aforementioned outdoor pools at Sellwood and Creston (both SE), there are outdoor pools at Montavilla Community Ctr (NE Glisan), Pier Park (North PDX), and Wilson High School (SW). All are run by Portland Parks and Rec.