Ida B. Wells Outdoor Pool

About

Ida B. Wells Outdoor Pool, located in southwest Portland, is a seasonal community pool offering recreational swimming, lap swimming, and swim lessons. It's known for being a family-friendly facility with amenities suitable for various ages.

The pool is heated, typically maintained at a comfortable temperature of 84°F (29°C).

What are people saying (AI review summary)? This outdoor pool is highly praised as a fun and engaging family destination, particularly for children. It boasts a variety of attractions including a popular lazy river with a whirlpool, large and small water slides, a diving board, lap pool, and a shaded kiddy pool. Concessions offering snacks like nachos and popcorn are available, and visitors are also permitted to bring their own food. While many consider it a top outdoor pool for its activities and overall enjoyment, recurring concerns include the water temperature, often described as warm or 'bath water,' and the significant crowds it attracts on hot days. Lifeguard attentiveness receives mixed reviews; some commend them, while others recount serious safety incidents due to perceived inattention. Additionally, the locker rooms and bathrooms are consistently noted as being outdated, dark, and in need of renovation. Despite these issues, it remains a cherished and memorable spot for many families.

Location

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Amenities

Reviews

Listing Reviews

July 14th, 2025

Amanda Grant

Our favorite summer pool. U can bring food in plus they have a concession stand with nachos & popcorn and drinks. They also offer sunscreen. They have a big umbrella over the kiddy part of the pool. I just don’t like on really hot days the pool feels like warm bath water.

August 21st, 2025

Brittney Lynn Calhoun

We lovw this pool! It offers alot of fun for the family. My kiddos love the water slide and lazy river with the whirlpool. Im giving 4 stars due to lifeguards not always paying attention.. my 7 year old jumped off the diving board, and another kid didn't follow the rules and wait for my kid to come back up from under the water, and decided to jump in and landed on my child and almost drowned him!! Lifeguards did nothing to protect my child in this situation. Multiple children blocking access to the stairs out of the deepest pool making it impossible for anyone to get out, once again lifeguards just allowed the build up while I watched a little girl basically struggle to tread water. So tho this pool offers fun amenities, staff dont pay great attention to the environment around them, so definitely make sure your watching your own children during play. 🩵

August 5th, 2025

liquid Snow

The coolest lifeguards I've ever met in my life. it's great. how much activities are in the pool? would be a little better if the pool wasn't 83° where the slide is. but overall top five pools. I think this is number one important. For outdoor pools!

July 25th, 2025

Cic T

Fun for kids. Lap pool, diving board, slide, little kid slide, shallow pool, whirl pool, no hot tub. Changing locker rooms with showers and bathrooms. Concessions available. Beach chairs and shade umbrellas - yet if it's a busy time these will be in use. Pay to swim. Can get very busy on hot days yet super fun place for families and kids!

August 14th, 2025

Maressa Blakeney

This is the best outdoor pool! I have been coming here since I was a baby. This pool is a core memory of mine. Its changed over the years and it's only gotten better. They have two slides, one for littles like 5 and under and a large slide for big kids and adults. When my family goes we spend probably 95% of our time in the lazy river. The river pushes you into a litter whirlpool and my kids love just going around and around and around. The bathrooms and locker rooms could use alot of work. They havnt changed since I was kid. There are only 4 stalls and it's very dark inside and worn down. They have a decent selection of snacks and food,nachos popcorn, blushes candy. This is a great place to take your kids to cool off.