April 27th Social at ABGB & Next Pool Cleaning

Come join the Friends of Barton Springs as we kick off the summer season with a social to celebrate our volunteers and the Thursday cleaning days ahead for 2023 at the Austin Beer Garden Brewery, 1305 W Oltorf!  The ABGB has kindly donated some beer tickets to help kick off the festivities.

All are welcome!  Asking for RSVPs to get a rough count on how many folks plan on attending, but as always, bring a friend to join in the fun 🙂

RSVP here for the April 27th Social

We also have a pool cleaning coming up on May 4th, and due to the rain out on our April cleaning day, this will be the first of the 2023 season!

RSVP and more info here for the May 4th Pool Cleaning

Barton Springs Pool Volunteer Pool Cleaning – Thurs April 6, 2023

The first seasonal Volunteer Pool Cleaning of 2023 is upon us!  Please join us on Thurs April 6 from 9am-1pm to lend a helping hand in maintaining Barton Spring Pool.

SIGN UP HERE FOR A SHIFT –   Shifts are available in 2 hours blocks: 9am-11am and 11am-1pm.  (Volunteers can sign up for both shifts) Sign-ups help us plan for cleaning activities, needed tools, and of course snacks – but walk-ins are always welcome!

Suggested attire:  swimwear, a hat, water shoes/sandals, and a pair of work gloves (optional)

Cleanings take place the first Thursday of each month, normally from April through October!

At the seasonal monthly pool cleanings, FBSP volunteers work alongside pool staff to maintain the pool area.  Tasks can vary, but may include: push brooming algae, cleaning off steps and railings, skimming the pool surface, gardening, planting flowers, general help maintaining pool grounds, or painting – i.e. lending a hand to make the pool and grounds as clean and beautiful as possible.

Volunteering to help with the pool cleanings is a great way to learn more about the facility and it’s legacy. Once you’re in the pool doing the work to maintain it, you’ll begin to understand how the water flows through the pool, where the main springs are, what creatures live in the pool and where, and how we can continue to improve pool cleaning and maintenance practices!

Snacks and fun will be provided.

Pool cleanings usually take place in 2 hour shifts, and volunteers are welcome to sign up for more than 1 shift.  Groups normally work with three to ten volunteers for each shift along with experienced volunteers to serve as shift leaders.

The pool reopens- again!

Hi friends!

The pool is now open every morning from 5 AM to 8 AM. No lifeguards will be present.  Swim at your own risk.

The pool is open Tuesday Friday Saturday Sunday from 8 AM to 10 PM with lifeguards.

Your temperature will be taken upon entry. Please wear a mask around the pool deck when not actively getting in or out of the pool. capacity at the pool is limited and when reached will be one in and one out.

See you at the pool.  Bring a friend!

 

 

FBSP DECEMBER-2019 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Friends,

The end of the year is nearly here and FBSP is excited once again to participate in the annual Polar Bear Plunge on New Years’ Day! We hope to see you all at the Pool this New Years’ Day to greet the new decade with a refreshing dip in the clear calm waters of Barton Springs and give a warm welcome to our 2020 FBSP Board.

Visit us at our booth on the south side of the Pool anytime between 9:30 and 4:00 on January 1 to meet our new Board, get information about membership and volunteering, and of course, to grab your 2020 Polar Bear Plunge swag!

Before the holidays, the 2019 FBSP Board welcomed three new members to its group of dedicated volunteers. After much deliberation, I decided the time had come to pass the torch to a new president and I am thrilled to announce that Stacey Buchanan will take over the role of president for the 2020 season. Stacey is an enthusiastic supporter of Barton Springs Pool and I am confident she will carry out the mission of the FBSP organization dutifully and faithfully. FBSP additionally welcomes David Cochran to the role of Vice President (replacing Ashley Todd who assumes the treasurer chair for the 2020 season) who will steer our ongoing efforts with the aquatic planting project, and Mark Jensen, who joins us as a talented and much-needed communications
chair.

PLEASE WELCOME OUR 2020 BOARD!!
President: Stacey Buchanan
Vice President: Dave Cothran
Treasurer: Ashley Todd
Secretary: Sarah Williams
Advocacy: Mike Cannatti
Communications: Mark Jensen
Fun: Carole Geffen
Fundraising: Brian Keogh
Membership: Renee Weissend
Service: Marc Czo

Update on the Aquatic Plant Nursery at Zilker Botanical Garden 

A huge thank you to the Barton Springs Conservancy which was able to secure grant funding for this project and to the Zilker Botanical Garden which agreed to set up a nursery for aquatic plans that will support increased aquatic plantings in the Pool. FBSP is shepherding more than 130 plants its volunteers added to the Pool this year with high hopes the plants will survive until spring and increase the biodiversity that is critical to the Pool’s ecosystem!

As my final duty as president, I personally would like to welcome Stacey, David and Mark to the Board, offer a huge thank you to the Board’s continuing members all of whom tirelessly serve FBSP year-round, Sarah Williams, Carole Geffen, Marc Czo, Ashley Todd, Renee Weissend, Mike Cannatti, and Brian Keough, and bid a fond farewell to Laurie Evans, who served as a superior advocate for the Pool and I know will continue to do so in her future endeavors. I feel humbled to have served in the role of President for so long and am grateful the Austin community is fortunate enough to have so many faithful stewards of Barton Springs Pool. I am jazzed about this new board and am looking forward to my role as a past president and proud future member of FBSP.

See you at the pool,
Steve Barnick, Past President

Share Your Thoughts With The City Of Austin On The Pool’s Entrance/Museum/Future!

Have your say, friends!

As part of the Barton Springs Bathhouse Rehabilitation, the main entrance to Barton Springs Pool will be moved into the Beverly Sheffield Education Center and Splash! Exhibit.

This facelift will create an opportunity to educate everyone who visits the pool about the importance of protecting water and preserving salamander habitat.

The goal of this effort is to provide a first class facility for Barton Springs visitors for the next 70 years while maintaining the historic integrity of the facility and meeting program needs.

The city of Austin wants your input! Share your memories and vision for the space through January 11, 2020.

https://www.speakupaustin.org/sheffield-ed-center