Barton Springs Pool facts for kids
.JPG)
Barton Springs Pool is a super cool outdoor swimming pool in Austin, Texas. It's special because it's completely filled by natural springs! These springs are connected to a huge underground water system called the Edwards Aquifer. You can find the pool inside Zilker Park, right in the path of Barton Creek. The water comes from Main Barton Spring, which is one of the biggest springs in Texas. People love swimming here all year long because the water stays between about 68°F (20°C) and 74°F (23°C). The pool also has grassy hills with lots of shady trees.
Contents
Discovering Barton Springs Pool
Ancient History of the Springs
Long, long ago, Native American groups like the Coahuiltecan people considered Barton Springs very important. For them, these springs were part of their ancient creation stories. They believed Barton Springs, along with Comal Springs, San Marcos Springs, and San Antonio Springs, were sacred places.
Early Explorers and Settlers
Spanish explorers first found these springs in the 1600s. Around 1730, they even set up temporary missions here before moving to San Antonio. Later, in 1837, a man named William Barton, also known as "Uncle Billy," settled in the area. He named three of the springs after his daughters: Parthenia, Eliza, and Zenobia. William Barton and the people who owned the land after him knew how special the springs were. They worked hard to make it a popular spot, which is why it's still loved today!
Becoming a Public Park
The last private owner of the land, Andrew Jackson Zilker, gave it to the city of Austin in 1918. In the 1920s, the city made the swimming area even bigger. They built a dam to hold the spring water and added sidewalks for visitors. The building where you can change and get ready for a swim was designed in 1947 by Dan Driscoll.
How Barton Springs Pool Works
The pool is usually open every day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., except on Thursdays.
Entry Fees and Hours
From mid-March through October, there's a small fee to enter between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Austin residents pay a bit less than visitors from out of town. You can also buy summer passes if you plan to visit often. From November through mid-March, it's free to swim! Lifeguards are on duty starting at 8 a.m. If you swim at other times, you do so at your own risk.
What You Can't Bring
To keep the pool safe and clean for everyone, some items are not allowed:
- Alcohol
- Food
- Pets
- Coolers or thermal bags
- Glass items
- Frisbees, footballs, soccer balls, or other hard balls
- Portable speakers
- Tobacco products (smoking is not allowed anywhere)
If someone is seen smoking or with alcohol, they will be asked to leave or won't be allowed in.
Pool Features
You can use flotation devices at the ends of the pool, but not in the middle. When the pool is open for swimming, special gates on its dam are closed. This allows Main Barton Spring to fill the pool, making it about 18 feet deep in some spots. At the top end of the pool, another dam stops surface water from Barton Creek from flowing in. Instead, this creek water goes through a tunnel under the sidewalks.
Cleaning Days
On Thursdays, the pool closes for cleaning from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Sometimes, the floodgates are partly opened to lower the water level. Workers then clean the limestone bottom of the shallow end and the steps. They use strong water jets to wash away slippery algae. In the deep end, a fire hose helps push any dirt towards the dam. They also trim overgrown plants. Once a year, the pool closes for several weeks for a much bigger cleaning.
When the Pool Closes
The pool closes during flash flood warnings. This is because Barton Creek can overflow the dam, making the pool unsafe. It can turn into a fast-moving creek! After a flood, the pool stays closed for a few days so mud and debris can be removed. Other reasons for unexpected closures include lightning, serious medical situations, or if there are too many bacteria in the water. Chemical spills, either in the pool or near the springs, can also cause closures.
Protecting Barton Springs Pool
Water Quality Concerns
Since the 1980s, the pool has sometimes closed because of unsafe levels of bacteria, like E. coli, in the water. Scientists are still trying to figure out exactly where this pollution comes from. Some people think it's due to buildings and roads upstream. Others remember high bacteria levels even in the 1950s, when there was less development. The problem often gets worse after heavy rains. This is because rain can wash pollution from nearby areas into the underground water system that feeds the springs.
Community Efforts to Help
These environmental concerns led to a local group called the Save Our Springs Alliance (SOS). SOS became very important in Austin's local government. They helped start many "green" projects to protect the environment, especially the springs.
Even famous people have helped! Robert Redford, who learned to swim at Barton Springs Pool, has spoken out to protect it. In 2007, he helped make a movie called The Unforeseen. This film showed how new buildings around the Edwards Aquifer could harm the environment.
Protecting Special Animals
Another environmental issue came up with the discovery of the Barton Springs salamander. This special salamander is an endangered species, meaning it's at risk of disappearing forever. It only lives in Barton Springs Pool and a few nearby areas. After careful studies, it was decided that swimmers and salamanders could safely share the pool, just as they probably had for a long time.
Chemical Spills and Solutions
In 2003, the pool closed after a local newspaper said the water was toxic. After 90 days of closure, experts from different health and environmental agencies checked the water. They found it was safe for swimmers. The chemicals had come from a type of pavement sealer used in a nearby parking lot. This discovery led to Austin becoming the first city in the country to ban coal tar pavement sealers in 2005.
