Portland’s Outdoor Pools Open June 18 With Same Rules As Summer 2025

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(Portland, Oregon) -

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) continues to implement public health guidance and established aquatic safety practices to help ensure a safe experience for all pool visitors and employees. Following updated guidance from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), swim rules at PP&R pools will remain the same as in summer 2025 when outdoor pools open for the season on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

Safety remains PP&R's highest priority. The bureau continues to maintain multiple layers of aquatic safety protections, including trained lifeguard staffing, swim testing for deep-water access, supervision requirements for young children and inexperienced swimmers, facility safety inspections, and emergency response procedures. PP&R regularly reviews aquatic operations and follows current public health and safety guidance from state regulators. PP&R pool rules can be found at portland.gov/parks/recreation/pools#toc-policies-and-pool-rules

Of particular interest, swimmers ages 10 through 13 will not be required to have an accompanying adult while attending a PP&R aquatic facility. However, OHA continues to recommend that children under age 14 be accompanied by an adult, and PP&R supports that recommendation.Oregon Health Authority : OHA to revisit new pool rule requiring adults accompany kids under 14 : External Relations Division : State of Oregon

Beginning June 18, each PP&R pool will post signage stating: "The Oregon Health Authority recommends that children under 14 are accompanied by an adult."

This recommendation reflects a change from a prior and recent OHA rule that required children younger than 14 to be accompanied by an adult at public swimming pools. That rule applied to aquatic facilities throughout Oregon, including Portland Parks & Recreation facilities, and was incorporated into Oregon's Aquatic Facility Rules,oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/OHA-to-revisit-pool-rule-requiring-adults-accompany-kids-under-14-06.09.2026.aspx

On June 9, 2026, OHA announced a temporary rule requiring public pools to post signage recommending that children under 14 be accompanied by an adult. The agency also announced additional public engagement and rulemaking processes as it works toward a permanent rule.

While OHA no longer requires adult accompaniment for children under 14, PP&R strongly encourages parents and caregivers to actively supervise children whenever they visit a pool. Drowning can occur quickly and quietly, even in facilities staffed by trained lifeguards. Lifeguards provide an important layer of protection, but they cannot replace direct supervision by a parent, guardian, or responsible caregiver who knows the child and can monitor their behavior, swimming ability, and comfort in the water.

Parents and caregivers remain responsible for determining whether a child is capable of safely participating in aquatic activities without direct adult supervision. PP&R encourages families to consider each child's swimming ability, maturity, and experience around water when making that decision.

In addition to OHA's recommended signage, PP&R will continue to require all existing pool safety rules. These include the established deep-end swim test and the requirement that children under age 10 be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Another longstanding rule requires that infants, toddlers, weak swimmers, and children under 48 inches tall be directly supervised in the water by a person age 16 or older who always remains within arm's reach .Swimming Pools | Portland.gov

Full PP&R swimming pool rules and policies are available at www.portland.gov/parks/recreation/pools#toc-policies-and-pool-rules.

The Oregon Health Authority's June 9 announcement regarding its revised approach to the under-14 accompaniment rule is available at

oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/OHA-to-revisit-pool-rule-requiring-adults-accompany-kids-under-14-06.09.2026.aspx

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