Patterson Neighborhood Pool and Dottie Jordan Neighborhood Pool offer swimming pool alternatives to Bartholomew Municipal Pool

For immediate release:
July 1, 2009

Bartholomew Municipal Pool, 1800 E. 51 Street, in Northeast Austin will remain closed until a new pool is constructed. An independent engineering firm has assessed the facility and has determined that the pool has structural deficiencies that pose a public safety hazard.

The pool has shown signs of shifting and structural damage in previous years. The Aquatic Division maintenance staff had been monitoring the pool and was able to keep the pool operational until this year. At the start of this year’s summer season, Bartholomew Municipal Pool was filled and staff noticed additional, significant structural damage to one of the pool’s walls. The Parks and Recreation Safety Coordinator and Aquatic Division staff inspected the pool and pump room and hired an independent engineering firm to assess the structural condition of the pool. The engineering reports that if the steel reinforcement in the pool has degraded, then structure collapse is a real possibility and a hazard to public safety.

The Aquatic Division received approval in the 2006 Bond Election for construction of a new Bartholomew Pool. Construction plans for the new pool have already been initiated and a timeline for completion will be determined at a later date.

Dottie Jordan Neighborhood Pool, at 2803 Loyola Lane or Patterson Neighborhood Pool, at 1400 Wilshire Blvd. are two great swimming pool alternatives to Bartholomew Pool. Both pools are less than 3 miles in distance from Bartholomew pool and best of all, admission to these two pools is free.

For more information, contact the Aquatic Division at 974-9331.

Contact:
Victor Ovalle, Program Manager, Public Information and Marketing, Austin Parks and Recreation Department - 512) 974-6745