Polishing pads having discrete and selectively arranged regions of varying porosity within a continuous phase of polymer material are provided herein. In one embodiment a polishing pad features a plurality of polishing elements each comprising a polishing surface and sidewalls extending downwardly from the polishing surface to define a plurality of channels disposed between the polishing elements, wherein one or more of the polishing elements is formed of a continuous phase of polymer material having one or more first regions comprising a first porosity and a second region comprising a second porosity, wherein the second porosity is less than the first porosity.