The city’s parks department has backed away from a plan to close Barton Springs Pool an hour earlier this summer. The change would have eliminated the free daily night swims — full moon or not. “While the Parks and Recreation Department was considering a minor reduction in pool hours to achieve cost savings, the City […]
Barton Springs Pool
This man-made, spring-fed recreational pool is rightly considered the spiritual center of Austin. Despite its intimidatingly cool waters, it remains a popular year-round swimming spot for Austinites of all ages.
Posted inParks
After leak repairs, Barton Springs reopens weeks earlier than expected
In a piece of good news – especially as recent sweltering temperatures have confirmed that summer doesn’t end till late September – Barton Springs is set to reopen today, on a Thursday, no less. During weekly pool maintenance Aug. 29, Parks and Recreation Department staff discovered leaks – caused by a hole that had grown […]
Posted inParks
Barton Springs closed for weeks due to major leaks
Austinites looking forward to an end-of-summer celebratory Barton Springs dip this Labor Day weekend were disappointed, thanks to a safety hazard caused by two major leaks that has led to a weekslong indefinite closure of the pool. The pool has been out of commission since Aug. 29, when the city’s Parks and Recreation Department announced […]
Posted inParks
Council approves renaming bathhouse in honor of Joan Means Khabele
City Council on Thursday approved the renaming of the bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool in honor of the woman who, as a teenager, led the first “swim-in” at the segregated pool in an act of civil disobedience. With the unanimous vote, the facility officially becomes the Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool. The […]
Posted inParks
Parks board blesses bathhouse renaming
More than 60 years ago, Joan Means Khabele jumped into Barton Springs Pool, launching a movement that led to its desegregation. Austin is now set to remember her legacy by renaming the Barton Springs Bathhouse after her. After being denied entrance due to the racist rules in place at the time, Khabele is known as […]
Posted inParks
City plans to remove Barton Springs tree ‘Flo’ this week
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department announced on Monday morning that they would be removing Flo, the nearly 100-year-old pecan tree that leans over Barton Springs Pool, before the pool opens on Thursday. In addition, the department invited members of the public to celebrate Flo’s life at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the pool. The fate […]
Posted inParks
Austin delays removal of Flo, Barton Springs’ century-old tree
Flo, Barton Springs’ iconic leaning pecan tree, will live to see at least a few more days. Just last week, Austin Parks and Recreation announced they would cut down the tree this Thursday because of Flo’s deteriorating condition – but today the department said it will postpone Flo’s removal while it “reviews additional considerations.” A celebration of life, […]
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental Commission recommends Save Our Springs Ordinance amendment
The city’s Environmental Commission voted on July 5 to recommend an amendment to the Save Our Springs Ordinance that will pave the way for the completion of the long-awaited Barton Springs Bathhouse rehabilitation. The motion passed 10-0, with Commissioner Peter Einhorn absent. At its regular meeting, the commission heard a presentation on the proposed site-specific […]
Posted inParks
Clogged wells, ongoing drought gum up Deep Eddy Pool’s opening hours
Deep Eddy Pool is facing delayed opening hours due to drought conditions and the clogged status of two of the wells the city uses to keep the spring-fed pool in operation. Although regular maintenance scheduled for January may alleviate some of the problem, there is a limit to what the city can do while water […]
Posted inParks
City still working on a fix for Austin’s lifeguard shortage
The Parks and Recreation Department has put together a plan that “will allow for the successful operation” of Barton Springs Pool and a return to normal hours as soon as staffing numbers can support it. But critics say the city’s strategies don’t go far enough. The Aquatic Division is still looking to hire nearly 600 […]
Posted inParks
Council pushes for plans to hire more lifeguards
The city of Austin, which operates 45 aquatic facilities, is desperately seeking lifeguards. Parks and Recreation Department spokeswoman Kanya Lyons told the Austin Monitor Thursday that her department still needs to hire 614 more lifeguards. Ideally, the city would like to have 750 lifeguard positions filled by the beginning of the summer. The situation is particularly dire […]
Posted inParks
City seeks solutions to Barton Springs lifeguard problem
Spurred by news that Barton Springs Pool will soon be closed two days a week, City Council Member Paige Ellis will be asking City Manager Spencer Cronk to come up with additional strategies to address the city’s lifeguard shortage. In a post to the City Council Message Board, the Council member – and former lifeguard […]