Wading Pool

Area Pools and Springs in Austin Texas

Though the heat of the summer in Austin can be a real drain on exercising or any outdoor activity, the city is blessed with several public pools in which to cool off. 

Probably the most well known pool to Austinites, and those visiting, is Barton Springs Pool located near the Barton Hills neighborhood.  The pool sits on a lovely 3 acres of hillside, with a nice shallow end for children, and a deep end for those who brought their floats, as well as others who want to swim a lap or two.  The pool is a natural spring, and got its name in 1837 from William “Uncle Billy” Barton, who owned the tract of land which included the springs.  Once the area became a city park in 1917, the residents began to flock to the refreshing spring water, which averages 68 degrees year round. 

People-watching at Barton Springs is phenomenal.  All walks of life enjoy the pool, from tattooed bohemian types, to legislators, and all those in between, with a rash of topless sunbathers in the 1970s.  The diving board in the middle of the pool provides hours of entertainment for the divers and the spectators who will break into applause for a triple flip or a belly flop.

Many make a trip to Barton Springs pool a daily event, and a summer pass is available for those who frequent the pool.  Beverly Sheffield served as director of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department from 1946-1973 and swam 3 times a week for 73 years before his death. 

Just down the Colorado River from Barton Springs pool lies the Deep Eddy Pool.  Deep Eddy is the oldest swimming pool in Texas, built in 1915 by A.J. Eilers.  What used to be a popular swimming hole became a concrete pool, though still spring-fed via a 35 foot hand dug well.  During the 1920s, the pool became part of the Deep Eddy Bathing Beach, with cabins and camping areas surrounding it.  At that time, Lorena’s diving horse was a big hit, with horse and rider diving off a 50 foot platform into the water. 

The Deep Eddy pool is still a popular cool off spot today, and is perfect for those looking to swim laps or laze in the wading pool.  During the summer, a large movie screen is set up for Splash Party Movie Nights, when family friendly films are shown in the evenings when the air is still hot enough to enjoy a nighttime swim.

In Travis Heights, Stacy Pool is open year round.  The land was donated by Stacy’s Real Estate Company in 1929, and the pool was built by the government sponsored Works Progress Administration project in 1935.  For those that enjoy warmer water than that of Barton Springs or Deep Eddy, during the winter months, Stacy pool’s water is a mixture of city water and 100 degree well water pumped from the Trinity Aquifer, resulting in a pool temperature around 80 degrees.  The residents of Travis Heights use Stacy pool as a meeting place to chat and exercise.  Some of the families in the area have been doing so for the past 80 years, generation after generation. 

There are many other neighborhood pools, such as Ramsey pool in Rosedale, and Shipe Pool in Hyde Park, but there are also several small wading pools tucked in parks all around the city.  These pools, such as the Clarksville Wading Pool in Clarksville and Eastwoods Wading Pool, were mostly built in the 1930s and 40s as a place for children to cool off after a day of playing at the park.  Today, these pools are still a great place to take babies and small children, and tend to be more secluded, though most are only open from mid-June through early August, and stay open daily for just a few hours. 

If the summer heat gets to be too much, take a dip!  There’s probably a pool nearby.

About the Author

Ki is realtor in Austin. He runs a small site about Austin Real Estate which provides visitors a free search of the Austin MLS. He also provides market analysis on his Austin real estate blog.

Yorkie Takes Over Local Wading Pool!

Wading pool and toddler $1.97

Sunsout Wading Pool Flamingo Shaped Puzzle 1000 piece NEW $15.59

POSTCARD: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: HAMILTON PARK: WADING POOL & FIELDHOUSE – c.1908 $3.99

Missouri Postcard Kansas City The Grove Wading Pool $1.40

INTEX Dinosaur Play Center Kids Wading Pool Fun Slide Toy $48.98

KOHLER K-2331-4-0 CHORD WADING POOL LAVATORY, WHITE $4.99

INTEX Rainbow Ring Play Center Kids Wading Pool Fun Slide Toy $61.99

INTEX Ocean Play Center Kids Wading Pool Fun Slide Toy $44.98

45″ x 10″ Soft Side Pool Inflatable Kid Kiddie Swimming Wading Pool $14.28

66″ x 18″ Soft Side Pool Inflatable Kid Kiddie Swimming Wading Pool $25.95

74″ x 18″ Soft Side Pool Inflatable Kid Kiddie Swimming Wading Pool $36.93

Playmobil *Wading Pool* Set New $14.28

Dayton OH – Wading Pool, Bomberger Park – 1913 $9.95

WOW! BESTWAY INFLATABLE CHILDREN KIDS WADING SWIMMING POOL $12.82

WOW! BESTWAY INFLATABLE CHILDREN KIDS WADING POOL $19.75

Playmobil 4140 City 46pc. Summer Vacation Wading Backyard Pool Kids NEW $19.99

Running the River of Praise, Wading in Pools of Worship $16.57

2 1950-60 BOAT DOCK WADING POOL DAYTON OH POSTCARD $5.99

Miami FL Flamingos In Wading Pool Vintage PC $5.00

Wading Pool in HUMBOLDT PARK Buffalo N.Y. – old pc $9.99

Wading Pool O’Fallon Park St. Louis MO PC $4.69

BANZAI BABY SPRINKLES SPLISH SPLASH SLIDE WADING ACTIVITY POOL NEW $24.99

Playmobil Wading Pool 4140 NIB $17.99

SWIMMING POOL – WADING POOL – SNAPSET – KIDS SIZE– 6′ ACROSS x 1.5′ DEEP –NIB $10.00

Mushroom Baby Toddler Kids Wading Play Intex Swimming Pool – Brand New In Box $11.99

Wading Pool The Grove Kansas City Missouri MO WB Postcard $2.99

Sunset Glow 36 Inch Inflatable Baby 3 Ring Wading Pool $18.99

Intex Wading Paddling Fun Pool Child’s Inflatable Kids $53.74

INTEX Mushroom Inflatable Baby Wading Swimming Pool | 57407EP $18.95

1953 Photo cute little girl sandbox bucket wading pool $4.69

Postcard 917477 Wading Pool Rare Bird Farm Flamingoes South of Miami FL $2.00

Color Polaroid O3885 Kids in swimtrunks in wading pool $5.98

Color Polaroid O3889 Kids playing in wading pool,water from hose $5.98

Color Polaroid O3897 Kids with water guns in wading pool $5.98

K-2388-FE Kohler Inscribe 16-1/2″ Wading Pool $139.00

Color Polaroid O3651 Boy laying in small wading pool $5.98

Postcard Wading Pool Below Spring Washington Park Chicago April 17 1912 $0.99

Color Polaroid O3655 Boy playing in wading pool on grass $5.98

PLAYMOBIL LOT 2 JET SKI SURFER 5925 & WADING SWIMMING POOL 4140 NEW IN BOX $18.49

[backlinksmage]