With more lifeguards hired, city will discontinue reservations soon
By Beth Sullivan, 4:05PM, Wed. Jun. 9, 2021
photo by David Brendan Hall
In a twofer of good news today, the city not only announced that Barton Springs Pool will reopen this Friday, June 11, but also that the pool will discontinue reservations for guarded swim by the end of the month.
Last week the Austin Parks and Recreation Department temporarily closed the pool because of flooding from heavy rain. On Friday, the pool will reopen under the same operating hours before its closure, which means free swim at your own risk between 5-8am (no reservations required) and guarded swim from 8am-10pm on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (reservations required until further notice).
The city instituted a reservations system less than a month ago in an effort to control capacity levels during the summer swim season. However, due to the recent hiring and training of additional lifeguards, the pool will have expanded available reservations for the rest of the month until reservations are discontinued. After that, in-person sales for entry will resume.
Until then, season pass holders, people ages 18 and older, veterans, and active duty military members are able to enter Barton Springs Pool without reservations, although everyone else in the party must have a reservation.
Reservations are for a two-hour period and are available online beginning at $5. Season passes are available for purchase online for $190 and are good for all city pools through Oct. 31.
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