You’re Invited to Picnic with FBSP!

Come celebrate the summer with us at the third annual FBSP Picnic!

Former, current and future volunteers, supporters and families are all invited to the Zilker Rock Garden (picnic tables above the Zilker Hillside Theater) for some fun in the shade from noon to 3 pm on Saturday, September 8.

It’s been a great summer of cleaning at the pool, and we want to show our appreciation for all our volunteers and supporters!

FBSP will be providing delicious food and beverages, including cold beer from sponsor Austin Beerworks and door prizes generously donated by Once Over Coffee Bar and Whole Earth Provision Co.

You can RSVP to the event on our Facebook page by clicking here.  Please RSVP so we know how much food to have!

Be sure to bring your suit and towel so you can take a dip in the pool either before or after the picnic!

Bonds for the Bathhouse Report

There is still time for you to tell the City Council that you support including the BSP bathhouse restorations in the November bond election!

The decision process is still ongoing, and some council members are interested in adding the bathhouse back into the bond package – they need to hear from you!  The more emails they get, the more likely they are to go to bat for the Pool.

Click the links below to email the mayor and council members. Click here for some points you can make in your email (pdf).  Click here to see our previous post on the Bonds for the Bathhouse.

July’s Draw-down Pool Cleaning

Service Chair Thomas Schiefer strolls poolside during the cleaning.

Cleaners far and wide, let me be the first to thank all of you who came out to July’s cleaning. It was a special day for all, as we did one of four draw-downs per year of the springs. This is when the city staff opens up the flood gates and lets the pool drain for most of the day. This process reveals numerous beaches and rocks that we all love to clean up and wade through. A big portion of the day was spent in waist deep silt pulling weeds.

Pool managers told us that we got more done in one day than usually gets done in a couple of months. So thank you Benchmark, Tucker Construction and all you other volunteers that came out and got muddy pulling weeds, sweeping rocks, scrubbing railings and getting extreme sunburns! I have heard from numerous sources that the pool looks wonderful after the draw-down, so give yourselves a big pat on the back and smile knowing that your hard work paid off.

Volunteers get dirty in the pool.
See you all next month, September 6th, for the chance to do it all over again. Draw-down not included.
Sincerely,
Thomas Schiefer
FBSP Service Chair
FBSP Vice President Jonathan Beall cleans with the help of young Finneas.

Board Member Profile: Nathan Jones

Get to know Nathan Jones, FBSP’s Membership Chair!

How long have you been in Austin? I have not lived in Austin long. However, having grown up in a small town close to Austin, many of my fondest memories are driving here to spend summer days swimming at the Springs and picnicking with my family at Zilker until the Hillside Theatre began.

Why did you join the Friends of Barton Springs Pool? I care about preserving the Pool and I was drawn to the Friends because they have sweat equity here.

What do you do during the day? I work at a local coffee shop and I study Geography at Texas State University.

What does Barton Springs Pool mean to you? The Pool is a special place for me. It always made for a special occasion and today it still holds that charm. Except now I can come here and swim all the time!

Favorite local band or artist? I like the peoples at the Annie Street Arts Collective.

Any hidden talents? I can pour pretty pictures in lattes.

How long have you been a member of FBSP? I joined FBSP this summer in 2012.

Besides BSP, where is your favorite hangout in Austin? My second favorite hangout in Austin is probably my house. Lame? Probably. But that is where I can chase around my two dogs and hang out with my soon-to-be wife. It’s pretty rad.

Favorite author? Recently: John Steinbeck, Susanna Clarke, and Umberto Eco.

Favorite quote? “Outside a book, a dog is man’s best friend. Inside a dog it’s too dark to read!”

Beer of choice? I do like beer. A lot. I like anything Schlafly brewery in St. Louis produces and Austin Beerworks is one of the most exciting brewers around. I can’t decide on a favorite beer so I’ll have to settle on two of my favorite breweries!

Favorite philosopher? John Maynard Keynes. He was not the dreary, stuffy economist I thought he was. 

Tonight – Tell City Council to Fund the Bathhouse Restoration!

Today, Thursday at 4:00 pm or later is the public’s opportunity to request that there be Bonds for the Bathhouse to restore the Barton Springs bathhouse as laid out in the Master Plan. The City Council will be discussing the proposed 2012 bond election as Item #117 on the agenda.
Come to City Hall and tell your Council Members you want the bathhouse project restored into November 2012 Bond Package. There are many advocates in this city coming out in force in support of affordable housing, money for roads, money for cultural art projects – we need you to speak up for the pool!
In order to make sure our voices are heard too, please:
  • Come to City Hall tonight and sign in and speak.
  • Email the city council members and tell them you want bond funds to restore the bathhouse!
  • Spread the word to your friends and other members of FBSP.
Click here for some talking points that share our common goal with other park advocacy groups in Austin, some individual points specific to BSP, or make your own talking points on why the bathhouse should be funded.
The item (#117) is currently set to be heard on or after 4:00 p.m., but may be moved until on or after 6:00 p.m.
For the latest information regarding timing, follow @austintexasgov on Twitter, or view the meeting live on Channel 6 or streamed online at AustinTexas.gov/Channel6