In a good-news/continued-bad-news situation, the parks department announced yesterday that Barton Springs will resume normal operating hours on Mondays starting on Memorial Day. In addition, Deep Eddy Pool’s shallow end will be open starting at noon on weekdays. However, the news came with a reminder of why the pools were operating on abbreviated hours in the first place. Despite a hiring push and help from City Council in the way of funding and waived training fees, the city still has just 31.2 percent of the lifeguards needed to staff city swimming pools. Because of this, the city will have staggered openings for its pools. Tier One pools, which are open now, are Barton Springs, Bartholomew, Deep Eddy, Springwoods and Stacy. On June 6, Tier Two pools will open: Balcones, Dick Nichols, Dove Springs, Garrison, Govalle, Montopolis, Northwest, Rosewood, Shipe and Westenfield. According to a press release about the pool openings, “Additional pools will be opened as more lifeguards are hired and ready to work.” Find lifeguard applications and hiring details here and more information about city pools here.

Got Memorial Day weekend travel plans? If you’ve heard rumors of the record-breaking security screening lines at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, we’re here to tell you the rumors are true. You should take to heart officials’ pleas to get to the airport early, as AUS expects the coming weekend to be the “busiest Memorial Day travel time in the airport’s history,” according to a news release. While summer is always a hectic travel time, Austinites have kicked off the summer travel season earlier than in previous years, officials say, underlining the urgency with the fact that “An estimated 22 million passengers will fly out of AUS this year, making 2022 a record-breaking year.” Assistant City Manager Gina Fiandaca notes, “New businesses moving to Austin and recovering business travel, as well as a renewed desire for families and communities to connect, continues to drive strong demand for air travel at our airport.” So get to AUS at least 2.5 hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights, and keep in mind the slogan of seasoned travelers everywhere: “Plan ahead, arrive early and pack your patience.”

The Austin-based advocacy organization Hi, How Are You Project wants to remind everyone that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. HHAYP “is wrangling a community of support around the world to join the fight in driving awareness and education about mental health by encouraging us all to check on each other with four simple words: “Hi, how are you?” This deceptively simply campaign aims to “help destigmatize mental health conversations.” As HHAYP explains, “Reaching out to loved ones, friends, and neighbors – asking how they’re doing – is more important than ever.” Take the pledge and help to “shed light on the startling current reality that over 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental health illness, with 75 percent of mental illnesses beginning by age 24.”

Need a summer job or know someone who does? Travis County Parks is looking for people to work through the summer season. Available jobs include “staffing a fee booth, collecting gate receipts, distributing park permits, participating in park tours and programs, and assisting with the opening and closing of their assigned park.” To sweeten the deal, seasonal staff who are hired by June 3 and remain in their jobs through July 4 are eligible for a $600 incentive. And if you continue working through Sept. 5, you’ll get an additional $600 bonus, for a total of $1,200. As county parks chief Charles Bergh said in a news release: “Seasonal staff are the face of our Travis County Parks. They are the first to greet our guests and the last to wave goodbye. If you are someone who enjoys the outdoors and is looking to earn some valuable experience and some additional money, Travis County Parks has a place for you.” More info on job opportunities here.

Austin’s second downtown may soon see taller buildings. City Council voted unanimously Thursday to allow more height and floor area ratio in the North Burnet Gateway Regulating Plan’s Commercial Mixed-Use (CMU) Gateway Zone Subdistrict, which dictates land use rules for the portion of the Domain around the old IBM campus. Once the change is adopted in code – tentatively around August – buildings in this area will be able to reach 420 feet in height with 12:1 FAR if they participate in the development bonus program. Current entitlements allow up to 308 feet and 8:1 FAR with a density bonus. Developers have shown interest in building taller than allowed in the area, with individual zoning change requests moving through the city’s approval process in recent months – including rezonings to allow multiple towers next to Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium. “(The amendments) will enhance this growing area by supporting transit and walkability,” said Council Member Leslie Pool, who sponsored the item. Pool said she aims to kick off a planning process in June to update the whole North Burnet Gateway Regulating Plan, which was adopted in 2009.

Austin Public Health has published its 2022 Community Health Assessment for Austin-Travis County, “a compilation of data, interviews, focus groups, listening sessions, and social media campaigns” that “sheds light on the social and economic context, community health issues, and community visions of residents.” In her request for feedback on the assessment, APH Director Adrienne Sturrup noted that, “While research and studies are important for our work as a health department, they only get us so far. We need input from our community. Taking time to submit feedback will help you, your family and your neighbors.” The assessment helps APH form its policies and health goals for the next three years. Review the complete assessment here and leave feedback on SpeakUp Austin.

Austin’s parks department and its community partners have been installing various types of nature-focused play features for children across the city’s park system, focusing first on neighborhoods that have been deemed lacking in natural green spaces. The latest such playscape is at MLK Station Neighborhood Park. During the community outreach that was done in advance of the design process, local residents said they “wanted to be able to climb, jump, balance, build forts as well as access water, trees and native plants. These elements were echoed in the final design which includes a stump, log, and boulder play trail; circular stump seating with central space for loose parts; and play hill. It also features a seating/gathering space, a looping natural trail, a mulched central trail, limestone block seating, adjusted and re-secured stepping stones across the creek, and ongoing treatment for invasive bamboo.” The Children and Nature Network will be hosting special weekend Nature Play Days this summer “to help build understanding and comfort with these new features.” The play area’s grand opening is Saturday, June 4, noon-3 p.m., MLK Station Neighborhood Park, 2907 E. MLK Jr. Blvd.

The city of Austin will celebrate the annual Bike to Work Day this Friday, May 20. The national celebration will kick off at City Hall, starting at 8 a.m., with free coffee, tacos and giveaways, and remarks from Mayor Steve Adler, City Manager Spencer Cronk and Transportation chief Robert Spillar at 9 a.m. Those without their own bikes may rent MetroBikes for free using the promo code B2WD2022 and everyone can access fueling stations or meet up with fellow cyclists on one of the many bike routes across town.

Feeling poetical? Why not dash off a bit of doggerel for the Lone Star Limericks contest? The contest invites participants to “Pay tribute to the people, places, sights, and sounds of this great city and state by immortalizing (or gently mocking) them in verse.” In other words, your limerick can be about anything, as long as it pertains to Austin or Texas and is “family friendly.” Submissions are open May 22-June 4. Use the online submission form and submit a limerick in text, image or video format. There are two categories: General (13 & up) and Youth (12 & under). After the contest closes, the public will be able to view a gallery of submissions and vote for their favorites. Winners receive “a Texas-themed prize package.” (If you’re not exactly sure how to write a limerick or need to brush up on this ancient art form, check out the famous how-to of limerick-writing from the Saturday Evening Post.)

Beginning next month, Austin-area Randalls grocery stores will no longer sell Capital Metro bus passes. The transit authority relayed the change yesterday, with the assurance that Capital Metro outlets and some HEB locations will continue to sell transit passes to the public. Capital Metro took the opportunity to remind Austinites that HEB only sells single passes. Monthly bus passes can be purchased directly from Capital Metro, at the Transit Store or through its app. Randalls will cease its sale of bus passes on June 1.

Austin Public Library’s University Hills Branch is reopening to the public with a free festival that features a ribbon-cutting, the unveiling of a new sculpture, live music, food and drink, book giveaways, and family-friendly activities and crafts. The library, which suffered extensive water damage after Winter Storm Uri struck in February 2021, has a new roof and electrical wiring, new ceilings and flooring, and an expanded parking lot. Library chief Roosevelt Weeks said in a news release, “We are very excited that this important center for learning, culture and recreation for the East Austin community will be reopening its doors to the public. I think the community will be very pleased with the improvements that have been made at this branch, which will allow us to continue providing a safe and friendly environment for years to come.” May 21, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 4721 Loyola Lane.