Water's Fine

Barton Springs and other popular swimming pools reopen with restrictions

Barton Springs is reopening in the wee hours of the morning.

Austin Parks and Recreation Department/Facebook

Austin's most popular pools are reopening ... just in time for fall-like temperatures. Beginning Saturday, September 26, some of the city's most in-demand watering holes are once again open with major modifications.

First, the good news. The reservation system temporarily rolled out earlier this summer before the pandemic shut pools down again is gone. Instead, Barton Springs, Deep Eddy, Big Stacy Pool, Springwoods Pool, and Bartholomew Pool will open only on certain days and with very limited hours.

Austin Parks and Recreation said it made the decision to reopen the swimming spots in consultation with Austin Public Health and city leadership. Austin now sits at Phase 3 of the COVID-19 guidelines, a key milestone in the pandemic, and one of the indicators that the city could be reopening certain attractions.

As of Saturday, Barton Springs will be open daily, which is great news, but from 5 am to 8 am, which is just so early. There are no lifeguards, so exercising at Barton Springs will be swim at your own risk. For those looking to take a dip in the daylight, the Barton Creek Spillway, aka Barking Springs, reopened September 12. Just remember to social distance so we don't end up on the news again as poster children for ignoring the pandemic.

Across Lady Bird Lake, Deep Eddy is also reopening Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 9 am-7 pm. The pool is open for lap swim only.

Big Stacy Pool in Travis Heights is now open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. On weekdays, Big Stacy is open for lap swim from 6 am-2 pm and then recreational swim from 2-8 pm (two lap lanes will still be available during recreational swim). On weekends, the pool is open from noon-6 pm for recreational swim and with two lap lanes available.

Over on the east side, near Mueller, Bartholomew Pool is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday. On weekdays, the pool opens from 12:15 pm to 2 pm for laps and then 2-8 pm for recreational swim. Weekend hours are 1-5 pm for recreational swim. One lap lane will be available during recreational swim times.

And finally to North Austin and Springwoods Pool, which is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday for recreation swim only. Weekday hours are 4-8 pm and weekend hours are 1-5 pm. One lap lane will be open during these times.

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GIVING TUESDAY

Austin's Sims Foundation restores some services thanks to local gifts

Sims Foundation Riders Against the Storm

Photo courtesy of Sims Foundation

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It may not be the tidy finale of a Hollywood holiday movie, but the Sims Foundation is rewriting its story. A critical cash infusion from two Austin groups will allow the nonprofit to continue to serve its most vulnerable clients as it grapples with a long-term plan.

On October 22, Board Chair Marissa Rivera announced that Sims would pause services for 90 days to restructure its service model. Although the foundation has traditionally kept operational costs lean, public funding shortages, a changing healthcare landscape, and the lingering aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic left the 30-year-old nonprofit shaky.

"The reality is simple," Rivera wrote in an open letter, "We need more funding to continue to operate at our current service levels, and we need to restructure our service model to ensure that we are maximizing all of the resources and efficiencies that are now available."

Although fundraising remains urgent, new funds from C3 Presents and charitable lifestyle brand Armadillo World Headquarters (AWHQ) will allow SIMS to resume select mental health and addiction recovery services for Austin's musical community.

"Helping SIMS Foundation to continue to be able to serve our community was a no-brainer," said AWHQ spokesperson Nick Shuley via a release. "We deeply value the role SIMS plays in sustaining the health and vibrancy of our city's musicians and artists, and we hope other organizations are inspired to do the same."

Public support will remain a key part of the equation as SIMS navigates the future. The C3 and AWHQ monies helped the nonprofit reach 30 percent of its Restore the Rhythm campaign goals, but support from local individuals and businesses is needed to tighten the gap. Donations can be made online.

The need for care among Austin's musicians, industry pros, and dependents remains sharply felt. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five Americans experiences a mental health condition each year. As Austinites wrestle with a high cost of living, The SIMS Foundations remains committed to removing barriers to wellness.

music wellness health healthcare nonprofit charity

Water's Fine

Barton Springs and other popular swimming pools reopen with restrictions

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