South Portland Community Center: Visitor Guide

South Portland Community Center Hours

The City uses seasonal building hours. During the regular fall, winter and spring season—from Labor Day through Memorial Day—the published schedule is:

Summer Community Center Hours

Recreation administrative offices have historically listed Monday–Friday 8 AM–4:30 PM, but visitors needing administrative assistance should confirm the current office schedule.

South Portland Community Center Facilities

The City describes the center as a multipurpose public recreation building, with spaces for scheduled programs and approved rentals.

Indoor Pool, Hot Tub and Swimming Programs

The South Portland Community Center Pool has six lanes, a 25-meter length and a one-meter springboard. Water depth is approximately 3.5 feet at the shallow end and reaches about 12 feet at the deep end.

The facility also provides:

• An accessible ramp and water wheelchair for pool entry.
• A six-person hot tub with therapy jets.
• A lift for hot-tub accessibility.
• Men’s, women’s and private changing rooms.
• Coast Guard-approved lifejackets in selected sizes.
• Kickboards, pull buoys, fins and other available training equipment.
• Lap swim, open swim and scheduled aquatics activities.

Current Published Drop-in Swimming Fees

The City’s aquatics page also lists a military admission category, with eligibility-specific pricing. Check applicable identification requirements before visiting.

Lap Swim vs. Open Swim

Lap swim is intended for continuous exercise swimming. Lanes can be organized by speed, and swimmers may need to circle-swim when sharing a lane.

Open swim provides scheduled recreation time, subject to lifeguard supervision, capacity and pool rules.

The City changes drop-in swim schedules monthly. Registration is not normally required for a standard drop-in session, but attendance is first come, first served and the applicable admission fee must be paid.

Swimming Lessons and Aquatics Activities

The City’s recreation program includes swimming lessons and other organized pool activities. Offerings may include youth lessons, adult instruction, water aerobics and aquatic fitness.

How to Find a Swim Lesson

1. Open South Portland MyRec. Select the City’s official recreation registration site.
2. Browse Aquatics Programs. Review the classes open for the current season.
3. Choose an appropriate level. Check age, swimming ability and any prerequisites.
4. Read session information. Confirm dates, time, class size and instructor details.
5. Compare resident and nonresident fees. Program tuition may differ from ordinary pool admission.
6. Complete registration. Submit participant details and required payment.
7. Save the confirmation. Check equipment requirements and arrival instructions.

Open Gym and Basketball Admission

South Portland Community Center has a gym with two full-size basketball courts. The City may schedule open gym, recreation programs, athletic practices and rentals in this space.

Published Open-Gym Fees

The current court schedule determines whether a visitor can use the gym for drop-in basketball or other activities.

Before Visiting the Gym

• Check today’s open-gym calendar.
• Confirm the intended age group or activity.
• Bring clean, non-marking athletic footwear.
• Follow staff directions concerning court sharing.
• Check whether a league or rental has reserved one or both courts.
• Confirm participation rules for children.

Indoor Walking Track: Hours and Cost

The indoor walking track sits above the gymnasium and offers a place for exercise away from Maine’s colder or wetter weather.

The City’s resident services guide lists:

The guide describes the track as available during regular community center operating hours, subject to facility requirements.

Walking Track Etiquette

• Check in as required at the front desk.
• Wear appropriate footwear.
• Follow directional and passing signs.
• Be considerate of slower walkers.
• Keep clear of doors, stairs and other access points.
• Follow staff instructions during large gym events.

For accessibility questions or concerns about track access during an event, call 207-767-7650.

Senior Drop-in Center: Free Activities for Ages 55+

The Senior Drop-in Center is located within South Portland Community Center and welcomes residents and nonresidents age 55 and older.

The City describes its ordinary drop-in activities as free and self-directed, with no advance registration required.

Senior Drop-in Center Hours

Popular activities include mahjongg, card games, knitting, creative activities, tea time and informal social visits.

The senior area includes a kitchen and multiple rooms to accommodate different activities.

Some excursions or special programs may require registration or additional fees, even though regular self-directed drop-in activities are free.

Youth, Teen and Family Recreation Programs

South Portland Parks, Recreation & Waterfront provides seasonal recreation programs for children, teenagers, adults and families.

How to Register for Recreation Programs

1. Create a MyRec account. Use the official South Portland registration website.
2. Find your program. Choose the relevant age group or activity category.
3. Check the exact facility. Programs may take place at South Portland Community Center, Redbank or other locations.
4. Review eligibility. Certain out-of-school programs are restricted to South Portland residents.
5. Confirm fees and availability. Registration may close after capacity is reached.
6. Complete the enrollment. Submit household information, forms and payment where required.
7. Keep confirmation. Check start dates, drop-off instructions and cancellation terms.

South Portland Community Center Room Rental Rates

The City allows approved outside groups and individuals to rent selected indoor spaces. Rental charges vary depending on the room and whether the applicant qualifies for the resident rate.

The current published municipal fee schedule lists these hourly rates:

*The master fee schedule lists $0 for the resident Conference Room category. This does not guarantee approval, waive insurance conditions or eliminate other potential support charges.

Casco Bay Room: Layout and Capacity

The Casco Bay Room is a larger gathering area suitable for eligible meetings, presentations and other approved functions. A serving window connects to the adjacent kitchen, which can be rented separately as part of a room-and-kitchen reservation.

The room includes a built-in projector and screen, with stated audiovisual limitations. Staff should confirm whether your equipment is compatible before you commit to a presentation setup.

Choosing the Right Rental Space

Swimming Pool Birthday Party Rentals

The City offers reserved pool-use options for birthday parties and other approved gatherings. Regular pool birthday party reservations are listed for Saturdays from 1–2 PM or 2–3 PM, subject to availability.

Saturday rentals are not available during the normal summer weekend closure period from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Pool Rental Prices

The City aquatic program page and current municipal fee schedule agree on these rates.

Before arranging a swimming party, ask about guest capacity, lifeguards, supervision requirements, decorations, changing rooms, food restrictions and whether any separate event room is needed.

Community Center Rental Rules

The City publishes detailed facility-use policies for community center rentals.

Key Requirements

• Applicant age: The person requesting the facility must be at least 21 years old.
• Booking window: One-time requests and special events may be submitted up to 365 days before the desired date.
• Scheduling priority: City recreation programs and annual special events take precedence.
• Insurance: Liability insurance is required for rentals, subject to the City’s current policy.
• Operating hours: Rentals must take place within the Community Center’s hours.
• Footwear: Non-marking athletic shoes are required in the gym.
• Alcohol and smoking: Both are prohibited under the community center rules.
• Decorations: Confetti, glitter, silly string, rice, bubbles and similar materials are prohibited.
• Bounce houses: Not permitted.
• Food: Food and beverages are prohibited in the gym and multipurpose room, except permitted water.
• Outside vendors: Performers and other hired vendors require facility-manager approval.
• Cleanup: Renters are responsible for leaving the approved space in its required condition.

Insurance Requirement

The City’s rental policy requires general liability insurance of at least $1 million, naming the City of South Portland as an additional insured.

For ordinary one-day events, the required proof must be submitted before use is approved. Tournaments, leagues and organizations must typically provide their certificate at least two weeks before the event.

How to Reserve South Portland Community Center

Rental requests are managed through the City’s MyRec reservation system.

1. Choose your event. Decide whether you need a gym, pool, meeting space or a room for an approved celebration.
2. Estimate participants. Use the room’s listed occupancy for the planned seating arrangement.
3. Choose proposed dates. Check seasonal building hours and allow time for setup and cleanup.
4. Create a MyRec account. Sign in to the official South Portland Parks, Recreation & Waterfront system.
5. Open Facilities. Select the facility list and find South Portland Community Center.
6. Choose the room. Select the specific space and click the reservation request option.
7. Complete the form. Provide renter details, event information, dates and participant estimates.
8. Review the policies. Confirm food rules, alcohol restrictions, insurance requirements and the requested schedule.
9. Submit the request. The facility manager will review availability and contact you to confirm or deny the request.
10. Complete final approval. Provide any required documents, accept the rental terms and pay applicable charges.

Facility contact: Anthony Johnson at ajohnson@southportland.org.

Other South Portland Community Facilities

South Portland has additional recreation locations. Some are designed for activities that are not held at the Nelson Road building.

Before registering for a City program, check whether your confirmation says Nelson Road, Redbank, Wainwright or another location.

South Portland Community Center Map & Directions

Exact address: 21 Nelson Road, South Portland, ME 04106.

Parking and Accessibility

The center is directly across from South Portland High School. The City identifies parking areas on the Nelson Road and Nutter Street sides of the facility.

• Use the Nelson Road address for general GPS directions.
• For the Senior Drop-in Center, the City recommends the Nutter Street parking lot.
• Check the building’s entrance and check-in point for a rental or pool activity.
• Accessible facilities and an elevator are listed among the center’s amenities.
• Allow extra time for parking during large competitions and special events.

The number of available parking spaces and specific accessible parking arrangements should be confirmed with the front desk when necessary.

Before You Go: Practical Visitor Checklist

Related Community Center Guides

For comparisons with other recreation facilities, explore these guides on community programming, swimming, fitness and room rentals:

These links are to guides about different facilities; they are not South Portland municipal locations.

Official South Portland Sources

• South Portland Community Center — Official Facility Information
• Community Center Reservation Calendar and Facility Details
• Aquatics Programs, Pool Admission and Pool Rentals
• City Recreation Programs and Booking Steps
• MyRec Registration and Current Activity Calendars
• City Master Fee Schedule — Room, Gym, Pool and Admission Fees
• Official Community Center Rental Policy
• Casco Bay Room Capacity and Features
• Multipurpose Room Rules
• Senior Drop-in Center Hours and Activities

Main phone: 207-767-7650

Rental contact: ajohnson@southportland.org

Last researched October 19, 2026. This is an independent visitor guide, not an official City of South Portland publication. Confirm pool schedules, activity fees, building closures, insurance requirements and approved reservations directly with the City.