BARTON SPRINGS, Austin TX

#BARTONSPRINGS4EVER
AUSTIN TX

#EMERGENCYFIRSTRESPONDERS

Barton Springs Pool is a recreational outdoor swimming pool in Austin, Texas, that is filled entirely by natural springs connected to the Edwards Aquifer. Located in Zilker Park, the pool exists within the channel of Barton Creek and uses water from Main Barton Spring, the fourth-largest spring in Texas. The pool is a popular venue for year-round swimming, as its temperature hovers between about 68 °F (20 °C) and 74 °F (23 °C) year-round.^{[1][2][3] [4]} The pool's grassy hills are lined with mature shade trees.

Native American Coahuiltecan descendants include Barton Springs among the four springs part of their creation story dating to prehistoric times; these springs are Comal Springs, Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs and San Antonio Springs.^[5]

Spanish explorers discovered the springs in the 17th century, and around 1730 erected temporary missions at the site (later moving to San Antonio).^[6]

In 1837, before the incorporation of the city of Austin, the area was settled by William ("Uncle Billy") Barton, who named three springs after his daughters: Parthenia, Eliza, and Zenobia. He and subsequent owners of the property recognized its value as a tourist attraction, and promoted it vigorously, thus leading to the swimming hole's lasting popularity.^{[citation needed]}

The last private owner of the property, Andrew Jackson Zilker, deeded it to Austin in 1918. During the 1920s, the city undertook a construction project to create a larger swimming area by damming the springs and building sidewalks. The bathhouse was designed in 1947 by Dan Driscoll, who also designed the bathhouse at Deep Eddy Pool.^{[citation needed]}