People concerned about the future of Barton Springs pool have until Monday to voice their opinion about possible renovations to be recommended to city council members.
In 2006, former city manager Toby Futrell received calls from people concerned with Barton Springs' water quality and the bath house, which had not been renovated since it was built in the 1940s. Later that year, council members approved a resolution to improve the pool.
Since then, the public has had its chance to tell the master plan consultant team, which was hired in early 2007, what renovations should be made to the Barton Springs pool.
"Because it's certainly dear to many people in the Austin area, we have received quite a few comments," said Tom Nelson, spokesman for the city of Austin aquatics division.
Nelson said that after getting the public's recommendations, the master plan's main focus is renovating the bath house, improving the pool's water quality by updating the infrastructure and changing the landscape of the surrounding grounds.
Barton Springs is set up similar to a pond, which tends to grow algae, so people are studying the pool to find out how its water flows and how algae can be prevented, Nelson said.
"We want to create a better environment for swimmers and the salamander," he said.
Nelson said that even if the council approves the master plan this summer, it is not the final step. After the approval, the Parks and Recreation Department will continue to accept public input and have the consultant team make final approvals. Limbacher & Godfrey, Inc., an Austin architecture firm, is leading the planning team.
Short-term projects, such as removing gravel that falls into the pool each year and renovating a nearby sunken garden, will be underway immediately.
Councilwoman Sheryl Cole said she sponsored the original Barton Springs resolution plan in 2006, and after hearing the public concern, would like to see renovations made to the pool's dam.
"I would just hope that after the public comments and input, we can make the pool and surrounding areas cleaner, safer and more fun," she said.
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