After being closed for nearly three weeks, Barton Springs Pool will reopen at 5 a.m. Thursday. The pool was closed in order to repair two holes in an abandoned skimmer pipe that posed a hazard to swimmers. Those holes have now been filled with gravel and concrete in a manner that was intended to cause as little disruption to salamanders as possible. “We are thrilled to welcome the community back to Barton Springs Pool in time for the weekend. City leadership and partner departments have been instrumental working efficiently and cooperatively to resolve the issue and ensure that the pool is safe and ready for visitors,” interim PARD Director Angela Means said in a statement to the press. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of pool goers throughout the repair process.” Though Thursday is usually a cleaning day for the pool, it will be open for swimmers, with cleaning to take place on Wednesday instead. Deep Eddy Pool, which was operating with different hours during Barton Springs’ closure, will resume its normal hours of operation on Thursday.
Elizabeth Pagano is the editor of the Austin Monitor. More by Elizabeth Pagano