Barton Springs Pool facts for kids
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Barton Springs Pool is a special outdoor swimming pool in Austin, Texas. It's unique because it's filled completely with fresh water from natural springs nearby. You can find it inside Zilker Park. The pool is actually part of Barton Creek and gets its water from Main Barton Spring, which is the fourth largest spring in Texas. People love to swim here all year round because the water stays between about 68°F (20°C) and 74°F (23°C).
History of Barton Springs Pool
Long ago, even before the pool was built, the springs were very important to the Tonkawa Native American tribe. They used the springs for special cleaning ceremonies. Spanish explorers found these springs in the 1600s. Around 1730, they even set up temporary missions here before moving to San Antonio.
In 1837, a man named William ("Uncle Billy") Barton settled in the area. He is who the springs are named after! Barton named three different springs after his three daughters: Parthenia, Eliza, and Zenobia. He and later owners knew how popular this swimming spot was. They worked hard to make it a fun place for visitors, which helped it stay popular.
The last private owner, Andrew Jackson Zilker, gave the land to the city of Austin in 1918. In the 1920s, the city started a big project. They built a dam to make the swimming area larger and added sidewalks. The building where you change clothes, called the bathhouse, was designed in 1947 by Dan Driscoll. He also designed the bathhouse at Deep Eddy Pool.
How Barton Springs Pool Works
The pool is usually open from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Friday through Wednesday. During these hours, special gates on the pool's dam are closed. This allows Main Barton Spring to fill the pool. It can get deeper than 18 feet! At the top end of the pool, another dam stops water from Barton Creek from flowing in. Instead, it goes through a tunnel under the sidewalks.
From November to mid-March, it's free to swim. But from mid-March to October, there's a small fee (about $1 to $8 for Austin residents) if you enter after 8:00 AM. After 9:00 PM during the charging season, it's free again until closing. You can also buy summer passes if you plan to visit a lot.
Lifeguards are usually on duty, but before 8:00 AM, you swim at your own risk. The pool area has grassy hills and lots of shady trees. Some things are not allowed, like coolers, food, drinks (except water), glass bottles, alcohol, loud speakers, and pets (unless they are service animals). You can use flotation devices at the ends of the pool, but not in the middle.
On Thursdays, the pool closes for cleaning from 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM. Workers might open the floodgates a little to lower the water level. Then, they clean the bottom of the shallow end and the steps. They use strong water jets to wash away slippery algae buildup. In the deep end, they use a fire hose to push dirt towards the dam. They also trim overgrown plants. Once a year, the pool closes for several weeks for a much bigger cleaning.
The pool also closes if there are flash flood warnings. This is because Barton Creek can flood and overflow into the pool. It becomes unsafe to swim then. The pool stays closed for a few days after a flood so mud and dirt can be removed. Other reasons for closing include lightning, thunder, emergencies, or if there are too many bacteria in the water.
Protecting the Springs and Animals
Sometimes, the pool has to close because of too many bacteria in the water. This can happen after heavy rains. When it rains a lot, water from nearby areas can wash into the Edwards Aquifer, which feeds the springs. Scientists are still trying to figure out the main source of this problem.
Because of these issues, a local group called the Save Our Springs Alliance (SOS) was formed. SOS became very important in Austin. They helped create many "green" rules to protect the environment, especially the springs.
Famous actor Robert Redford learned to swim at Barton Springs Pool. He has also spoken out to protect it. In 2007, he helped make a documentary called "The Unforeseen." It showed how building homes around the Edwards Aquifer could harm the environment.
Another important issue came up when a special animal was discovered: the Barton Springs salamander. This salamander is an endangered species, meaning it's very rare and only lives in the pool and a few places nearby. After studies, it was decided that people and salamanders could share the pool safely, just as they probably had for a long time.
- The Unforeseen (2007) documentary
