April 4, 2019 — A Spring Barton Springs Cleaning Volunteer Opportunity

Hark, the herald angels sing!
It’s time for all to clean the Springs!
So join the gang on April 4
to help us with our cleaning chores!

earthdaycleaningparty

On Thursday, April 4 (9am to 3pm), volunteers can help clean Barton Springs by push-brooming the shallow end algae, helping yank invasives, brushing and cleaning the stair rails and sidewalls, potting the plants (it’s not what it sounds like), aerating and weeding the lawn and gardens, and generally doing some good for this place Austin loves!  All this hard work helps contribute to the cleaning, well-being, and beautification of Barton Springs Pool.

Volunteers can choose from 3 two hour shifts, starting at 9am.  Please sign up for a shift at the SignUp link (http://signup.com/go/cHHzANt) to help spiff up the pool.

March 2019 President’s Report for FBSP

Friends,

We are kicking the 2019 season with a board retreat in March where we will discuss our goals for 2019.  But first I would like to welcome our new Fundraising Chair Renee Weissend.  Renee reached out to us expressing interest in getting involved with FBSP, she lives in the Zilker area and enjoys swimming at the pool.  To make room for Renee, we moved Ashley Todd from “Fundraising Chair” to “Vice President.”  We are all excited about having Renee on the board and having Ashley take on another role at FBSP.  In addition, we are seeking to fill vacancy with our  Membership  chair if anyone is interested in being a part of an awesome team please contact me at president@friendsofbartonspringspool.org.

On Thursday, March 7, we are kicking off our year of volunteer cleaning at the pool from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  Our volunteer pool cleanings will happen on the first Thursday of each month from March through October, and we hope you all take the time to participate.  This first cleaning in 2019 will happen during the multiple day spring cleaning of the pool (Monday, March 4 until Friday, March 15) when the pool will be drawn down for a variety of projects and so this will be a rare opportunity to see the springs in their natural form along with getting involved with some rather unique cleaning opportunities at the pool.

We have many challenges both inside and outside the fence at Barton Springs Pool.  As a nonprofit organization, our true calling is “inside the fence” where we organize volunteer pool cleanings.  In addition, we take the knowledge and experience gained from these events to raise awareness of issues, advocate for change, and work with the Pool Staff to find solutions.  This year we have challenges that include planting trees, repopulating aquatic plants, removing sediment at the bypass tunnel inlet, keeping algae in the shallow end under control, eliminating non-native plants, and of course, putting a shine on the pool railings and the diving well ducks.

We are driven to supporting our outside the fence goals by the Barton Springs Pool Master Plan.  This involves identified projects in the Master Plan, such as the rehabilitation and restoration of the bathhouse and the opening of the pool to creek flow at the upper dam.  We will be involved with advocating for funding from historic preservation funds, the city funding for the 2020 budget and any other sources that will help to finance the causes that consider important to making the pool the best it can be.  We have also been actively involved with the Zilker Park Working group that was created via a resolution by city council to come up with recommendations for parking and traffic challenges at the pool and Zilker Park. This effort is a precursor to the Zilker Master Plan project that is slated to begin defining the scope sometime this year.  Our role in the process is twofold.  First, we have experience with advocating for a master plan because we got one approved in 2009 for BSP.  Second, BSP might be the crown jewel but the ring it sits on is Zilker Park, so our involvement in this process is very important in advocating for the future of BSP.

We are all about finding ways to put big smiles and foster good feelings at the pool. Last year’s “Council Cleans the Pool” event was a huge success in raising awareness to the challenges at the pool and resulted in getting funding for the Barton Spring Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project.  We are proud of the fact that we could play a role in getting that approved and look forward to making that happen again this year.

See you at the pool,
Steve Barnick, FBSP President

Opportunity for Feedback on the Barton Springs Bathhouse Rehabilitation

With gratitude for ALL the community input received throughout the Bathhouse Rehabilitation process, you should know that the Final Survey for the Barton Springs Bathhouse concept is now open!

Please give feedback on the proposed concept for the historic Barton Springs Bathhouse Rehabilitation project by filling out the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bathhousefinalsurvey. It’s short and sweet!

 

Help AMPLIFY Friends of Barton Springs Pool on Feb. 28, 2019

Please join us as we Amplify Austin by donating to Friends of Barton Springs Pool through the Amplify Austin campaign on Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2019.  Your donation supports our work to protect, restore, improve and maintain Barton Springs Pool – Austin’s Crown Jewel and natural treasure. Now, you can Amplify Friends of Barton Springs Pool anytime by donating at https://austinparks.org/support-friends-of-barton-springs. Ignore the popup, and show your love for Friends of Barton Springs Pool.

Thanks!

Our volunteers are happy to help clean the springs, and are even happier to have you help us Amplify Barton Springs Pool. Your donation will support Friends of Barton Springs Pool in our work to help restore and renovate the Barton Springs Pool Bathhouse, and to help organize monthly cleaning events that bring in scores of swimmers and friends of Barton Springs to work beside the staff to clean the Pool.  Such funds are used in our monthly volunteer pool cleanings to to purchase cleaning equipment and tools, food, and refreshments. Friends of Barton Springs Pool also raises funds to purchase new trees in the pool area.

PRESS RELEASE — Council Cleans Barton Springs Pool Thursday (Oct. 11)

PRESS RELEASE — Council Cleans Barton Springs Pool Thursday (Oct. 11)

(Austin, Texas) – With Austin’s population growing every year, the demands on Barton Springs, the Edwards Aquifer, and our water resources continue to grow.  Friends of Barton Springs Pool and Barton Springs Conservancy are pleased to join the Mayor and Austin City Council members on Thursday, October 11, 2018 to promote increased awareness of issues affecting our environment, parks, and pools, including specifically Barton Springs Pool.

The day’s events will kick off at 9 AM on the north side of the Pool with a press conference presentation promoting recent Barton Springs Pool projects supported by Austin City Council.  Mayor Steve Adler and Council Members Alison Alter, Jimmy Flannigan, Ann Kitchen, Leslie Pool, and Kathie Tovo will attend the event to provide information on the 2018 GO Bond package which supports our environment, parks, and pools and to discuss hotel tax funding for the rehabilitation of Historic Barton Springs Bathhouse.

Following remarks, Friends of Barton Springs Pool will conduct a tour of the Pool that includes the Historic Bathhouse, the Upstream Dam, a tour of invasive plants, new tree plantings, the reintroduction of aquatic plants, and the recently completed Eliza Daylighting project.

For more information about Council Cleans the Pool Day, visit http://friendsofbartonspringspool.org.

What: Austin City Council Cleans Barton Springs Pool

Who: Mayor Steve Adler, Austin City Council Members Alison Alter, Jimmy Flannigan, Ann Kitchen, Leslie Pool, and Kathie Tovo, Friends of Barton Springs Pool and Barton Springs Conservancy

When: Thursday, October 11 at 9 AM

Where: Barton Springs Pool, 2131 William Barton Drive, Austin, Texas 78746

For Immediate Release:
October 8, 2018
Contact: Steve Barnick
Friends of Barton Springs Pool
512-789-8512
president@friendsofbartonspringspool.org

Agenda for Council Cleans Barton Springs Pool Thursday (Oct. 11)

Agenda for Council Cleans Barton Springs Pool Thursday (Oct. 11)

8:45 am          Coffee & Tacos

9:00 am          Convene for Press Conference Presentation of Recent Barton Springs Pool Projects Supported by City Council

A.  Welcome & Recognition — Steve Barnick, FBSP

B.  Protecting Our Environment, Parks and Pools:

  • 2018 GO Bond Package with $72Mfor open space acquisition and $45M for parkland acquisition — Mayor Steve Adler
  • 2018 GO Bond Package with $40M to build a new pool at Colony Park and renovate existing pools Council Member Leslie Pool
  • 2018 GO Bond Package with $112M for drainage improvement projects and to continue buyouts of properties in flood-prone areasCouncil Member Alison Alter

C.  Honoring our Past: FY2019 HOT Funding for rehabilitation of Historic Barton Springs Bathhouse — Council Member Ann Kitchen

D.  BSP Master Plan Update  Rey Hernandez, PARD

  • 2018 Daylighting of Eliza completed — Donelle Robinson, Watershed Protection
  • 2017/2018 Repopulating Aquatic Plants – Mike Cannatti, Barton Springs Conservancy

E.  City Council Comments on Status and Future of Barton Springs:

  • Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo
  • Council Member Jimmy Flannigan

F.  Closing – Steve Barnick, FBSP

9:30 am           Convene for Pool Tour (Bathhouse, Upper Dam, invasive plants behind diving board, tree planting south lawn, reintroducing aquatic plants, and Eliza Daylighting)

10:15 – 12pm  Clean the Pool

12:00 – 3pm   Event Clean-up & Continued Monthly Volunteer Efforts