Portland's Rising Eddy Splash Pad Is Open (and It's Free)

Portland, Maine's new Rising Eddy Community Splash Pad opened July 3, 2026, at 165 Douglass Street. It's free and open to everyone, with no membership, pass, or account required. The adjacent Rising Eddy Community Pool does require a day pass or season pass, but the splash pad itself doesn't.

What is the Rising Eddy splash pad?

The Rising Eddy Community Splash Pad is a new outdoor water play area on the grounds of the Rising Eddy Community Pool complex in Portland, Maine. It opened on July 3, 2026, ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, and sits outside the pool building, entirely on its own. Here's the important part: the splash pad is not inside the pool fence. You don't walk through the pool entrance to get to it. It's part of the surrounding grounds, not part of the pool itself.

The larger complex has its own history. The pool the splash pad now shares grounds with is the former Kiwanis Pool, which first opened in 1961 and served Portland families for more than 60 years before closing in 2024 for a full renovation. It reopened as Rising Eddy on July 6, 2026, three days after the splash pad. The renovation carried a roughly $12 million price tag and was funded through a mix of city dollars, American Rescue Plan Act (federal COVID relief) funds, and a $1.25 million community fundraising campaign led by the Portland Parks Conservancy.

Do you need a membership to use the splash pad?

No. And if you've read otherwise, you're not alone. Some early coverage of the opening left the impression that the splash pad required a membership or day pass. That's not the case. The splash pad is free to use, requires no MyRec account, and has no age or residency restriction at the entrance. Anyone can walk up and let the kids run through the water.

The membership language in those early reports was about the pool, not the splash pad. Because the splash pad and pool opened within days of each other and share the Rising Eddy name, it's an easy mix-up. Worth knowing before you drive across town expecting to sign up for something.

What's the difference between the splash pad and the Rising Eddy pool?

The splash pad and the pool are two different things that just happen to share an address. Here's the short version.

The splash pad is outdoors, in the grounds surrounding the pool building. It's free. It doesn't require a pass or an online account. It's the better choice if you have younger kids, want a quick stop, or just want to cool off without committing to a full pool visit.

The Rising Eddy Community Pool is inside the newly renovated building and does require either a day pass or a season pass. Day passes are $4 for residents under 18 and $6 for adult residents. Season passes are available to both residents and non-residents, though non-residents pay double the resident rate:

• Family: $160 resident, $320 non-resident
• Adult: $80 resident, $160 non-resident
• Senior: $50 resident, $100 non-resident
• Youth (ages 3 to 17): $50 resident, $100 non-resident

Anyone using the pool also needs to set up a free MyRec online account first. That step doesn't apply if you're only using the splash pad.

The pool itself is a real upgrade from the old Kiwanis Pool. Its capacity is roughly 400 swimmers (four times the previous facility), and it includes water slides, lap lanes, and a zero-depth, ADA accessible entry.

What should you know before visiting?

Full honesty: we haven't made it out to Rising Eddy ourselves yet, since it only just opened. Rather than guess and risk getting something wrong, here's what we don't know firsthand yet:

• What time the splash pad opens and closes, and when the season wraps up for the year
• How much shade there is around the splash pad itself
• Whether you can use the restrooms and changing rooms in the pool building if you're only there for the splash pad
• What parking looks like, and whether it costs anything
• Whether there are picnic tables, benches, or grass nearby for a snack break
• Whether you'll want water shoes or a swim diaper on hand

We're planning to check it out ourselves soon and will update this post with real answers once we do. If you get there before we do and learn something worth passing along, our Contact page is the easiest way to reach us, and we'll add it in.

Maine summers are short, so if Rising Eddy runs on the usual splash pad schedule, plan on it being open sometime between late June and early September. Worth a quick double check before you make a special trip out, especially early or late in the season.

FAQ

Is the Rising Eddy splash pad free?

Yes. The splash pad is completely free to use. There is no admission fee, no day pass, and no membership requirement. This applies to residents and non-residents equally. The adjacent Rising Eddy Community Pool does charge for admission, but the splash pad is separate and free no matter what the pool costs.

Do I need a membership or account to use the splash pad?

No. You don't need a MyRec account, a day pass, a season pass, or any kind of registration to use the splash pad. Just show up. This is different from the pool, which does require a free MyRec online account plus either a day pass or a season pass. If some early news coverage suggested otherwise, that reporting was about the pool, not the splash pad.

What's the address of the Rising Eddy splash pad?

The Rising Eddy Community Splash Pad is at 165 Douglass Street in Portland, Maine. It sits on the grounds of the Rising Eddy Community Pool complex, on the same site as the former Kiwanis Pool. Because the facility was just renamed as part of the 2026 reopening, using the street address in your maps app is more reliable than searching by name right now.

How is the splash pad different from the Rising Eddy Community Pool?

They are two different things on the same site. The splash pad is outdoors, free, and open to anyone with no registration. The pool is indoors, requires either a day pass or a season pass, and requires a free MyRec online account before you can buy either. Families who just want a quick, low-commitment cool-off can use the splash pad without any of that.

Do I have to be a Portland resident?

No. The splash pad is open to everyone regardless of residency. If you're visiting the pool instead, both residents and non-residents can buy day passes and season passes, though non-residents pay double the resident rate on season passes. The splash pad doesn't care where you live.

How much does it cost to use the pool?

Pool day passes are $4 for residents under 18 and $6 for adult residents. Season passes for a family run $160 resident or $320 non-resident, $80 resident or $160 non-resident for adults, and $50 resident or $100 non-resident for seniors and youth ages 3 to 17. Anyone using the pool also needs a free MyRec online account. Splash pad users don't need any of this.