The Portland Parks Conservancy says just under $160,000 remains in fundraising for the Kiwanis Pool replacement project. 

Following an $11 million allocation from the city of Portland, the Portland Parks Conservancy was tasked with fundraising $1 million. Now, the city celebrates nearly reaching its goal with an event to break ground on the project taking place Thursday, June 5. 

“Kiwanis Pool has been a community hub and recreation treasure for Portland since 1961,” said Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities Management Ethan Hipple. But now, Hipple says the pool has “come to the end of its useful lifespan.” Recent summers have included closures and repairs to the 1961 facility. 

Features of the proposed project include a lap pool, leisure pool, splash pad, water slides, and locker rooms. The capacity of the new facility would be four times larger than Kiwanis’s current 100-person capacity. 

Brooke Teller of Maine Community Swimming says the importance of the community pool goes beyond recreation. “The ability to swim and be water safe should not be a privilege for those who can afford it. We need to strive towards a water safe community, where everyone — adults and children — have access to the opportunity to learn to swim.” 

Donations to the project can be made through the Portland Parks Conservancy website.