A beloved swimming hole in Central Texas is now open after record-breaking rainfall and flash flooding caused the pool to close last week. The City of Austin announced that Barton Springs Pool in Austin will reopen Tuesday, June 23, for its regularly scheduled “swim at your own risk” hours.
The pool was forced to shut down on June 15 when heavy rain and flooding hit Texas’s capital city, causing rushing water, rapids, and waterfalls at the natural spring-fed swimming spot. Austin Parks and Recreation said its staff removed large tree branches, aluminum cans, fishing hooks, and other debris from the pool water.
Since last week’s severe weather subsided, the Austin PARD team has cleaned off the decks and reinstalled the diving board and lifeguard stands in preparation for the pool’s reopening. Barton Springs is a popular three-acre swimming pool near Zilker Metropolitan Park in downtown Austin. The pool, known as Austin’s “Crown Jewel,” is fed by underground springs, making its waters crystal clear and a year-round temperature of 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit…