Austin to Close Three Pools for Summer

As summer approaches and temperatures rise in Austin, Texas, residents will have three fewer public pools in which to cool off during the 2017 season.

According to TV station KXAN, Govalle, Shipe and Givens Pools are in need of repairs, and will be closed for the season. 

Givens Pool, one of the city's most popular public pools according to CBS Austin, was reportedly leaking 50,000 gallons of water a day.

A memo from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department explained that the leak was found last summer during routine detection. Staff identified visible cracks in the pool wall and water flowing into the pump room through the cracks. The city conducted an engineering assessment to “verify the structural integrity of Givens Pool.”

Based on the assessment, the department received a preliminary report that concluded the cracks may have been caused by foundation movement. The report recommended identifying and sealing all the cracks and joints in order to minimize leaks; a process which will help to extend the life of the facility, but which will come at the cost of closing it for the summer.

According to aquatics division manager Jodi Jay, costs of repairing the 59-year-old pool are estimated at around $200,000. The funds will come from a 2012 bond measure.

Nearly 10,000 people used the pool during the 2016 season, and some residents voiced their disappointment over the closure. However, Jay said that the repairs are necessary.

“It has to be dealt with,” Jay told CBS Austin. “We can’t lose that kind of water. It’s not responsible.”

The Shipe and Govalle facilities are also in need of critical repairs but are scheduled to be fully remodeled for the 2018 season. KXAN reports that the city chose to close those facilities rather than repair them with renovations right around the corner.