Located in Portland’s Libbytown neighborhood, the Kiwanis Pool has been a staple in Portland for the last 60 years and was in need of an update. In 2019, the Portland Department of Parks, Recreation, and Facilities started gathering feedback from existing pool user groups and neighborhood groups in order to develop a conceptual plan and budget. Through these outreach meetings, an emphasis was put on designing facilities that were more accessible to young children and those with mobility issues, in addition to creating spaces for teens and young adults. 

The new Kiwanis Aquatic Facility will have a 21st-century pool, water slides, and a pop-jet spray garden in addition to a new set of locker rooms and a facility building. To make the facilities more accessible, it was designed to have a zero-grade entry for young children and those who have mobility issues. 

In the summer of 2023, Simons Architects partnered with Counsilmann Hunsaker to develop the pool design and construction documents and worked with Aceto Kimball Landscape Architects to develop the plantings and public areas. Currently, the project is under construction and is projected to open in the summer of 2026.

Client  |  The City of Portland

Location  |  Portland, Maine