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A new aquatic center for North Portland is on track to be built at Northgate Park, in the Portsmouth neighborhood. The project is in the early design phase.

The North Portland Aquatic Center will provide residents with increased access to recreational aquatic programming and facilities.

Northgate Park is bordered by Geneva Avenue to the west, Clarendon Avenue to the east, Fessenden Street to the north, and McKenna and Berkeley avenues to the south.

Now that the site has been selected, the design team, including architect ELS Architecture and Urban Design of Berkeley, California, and Portland Parks & Recreation will update potential cost estimates. At this point, $31.7 million in funding has been secured.

ELS Architecture and Urban Design was selected through a competitive solicitation process by the city for provision of services for phase II, including site selection, programming, schematic design and land use permitting. Phase III, set to begin next year, will include design development, permitting, etc.

Portland City Council authorized competitive solicitation and contract for the design, permitting, construction documentation and construction administration services on Wednesday.

Portland Parks & Recreation estimates that the aquatic center will serve 70,000 people. Of that group, 24 percent are Black, Indigenous or people of color, and 14 percent live below the federal poverty line.

Currently, the design team is reviewing the Northgate Park site and potential designs. The concept design will be shared with the public at Portland Parks & Recreation鈥檚 next community workshop event later this summer or in early fall.

The facility鈥檚 size is not final yet.

鈥淲e are looking at design options that range from a 25-meter pool to a 50-meter pool,鈥� Portland Parks and Recreation public information officer Mark Ross stated in an email.

The indoor aquatic center will serve North Portland residents with a culturally responsive approach and programming to reach underserved communities who have historically been excluded from public pools or felt unwelcome, the project鈥檚 website states.

Features of the facility will be determined during the design phase and through continued community engagement, Ross stated. Ideas include a fun pool with spray and play features, a competitive lap pool, a spa, lockers/changing areas, and reservable party rooms.

鈥淭his center will also provide a community anchor and jobs 鈥� first construction jobs and later, recreation and programming jobs 鈥� for adults and youth,鈥� Ross stated.

A request for proposals for a construction manager/general contractor will most likely be advertised this fall, Ross stated.

Construction is expected to begin in winter 2027 and finish in winter 2029, though the project is not fully funded yet. Money allocated so far includes $16.7 million in system development charge revenues and $15 million from the Oregon Lottery Bond program. Portland Parks & Recreation officials understand that additional funding will be necessary to complete the ultimate scope, a staff report states.

Cost estimates are approximately $54.5 million for a 25-meter pool or $69.9 million for a 50-meter pool.