Amid heat wave, some Portland outdoor pools will stay open for longer

Here’s a splash of good news.

Portland’s outdoor pool season was expected to come to a close Friday. But when a heat wave for Portland, other parts of the Willamette Valley, southwest Washington and the Columbia River Gorge rolled in, some pools — Peninsula, Creston and Pier – announced they will remain open through Sept. 5.

“We know how important cool, safe spaces like Peninsula Pool are during extreme heat,” said Portland Parks and Recreations’s Interim Director Sonia Schmanski. “And we’re doing everything we can to provide that option for the community.”

The Peninsula Pool in North Portland had struggled to maintain consistent temperatures with the pool’s water heater throughout the summer.

Ahead of the heat wave, maintenance workers sourced repair parts from out of state and confi