Barton Springs resumes regular Monday hours – but more lifeguards still needed

Lifeguards are still needed to fully open Austin’s public pools, but Barton Springs will resume regular Monday hours on Memorial Day. Pam LeBlanc photo

Deep Eddy and Barton Springs pools are expanding their hours, but many Austin pools will remain closed until the city can hire and train more lifeguards.

Barton Springs Pool will resume normal Monday operations beginning Monday, May 30. The shallow side of Deep Eddy Pool will also open at noon on weekdays starting next week, according to a press release from the city of Austin.

But more lifeguards are needed.

Related: Austin looking for summer lifeguards

Right now, the city has 234 trained lifeguards on staff – 31.2 percent of the 750 needed to fully staff city pools.

The city has developed a tiered pool opening schedule to distribute the available workforce. Tier one pools – Barton Springs, Bartholomew, Deep Eddy, Springwoods and Stacy – are open annually.

Pools in the second tier – Balcones, Dick Nichols, Dove Springs, Garrison, Govalle, Montopolis, Northwest, Rosewood, Shipe and Westenfield – will open beginning June 6. But to open those pools on time, the Aquatic Division needs 375 lifeguards ready to work.

Additional pools will open as more lifeguards are hired and trained.

Lifeguards can earn up to $1,250 in bonuses. Pay ranges from $16 to $19 an hour depending on experience and certifications. Guards get paid sick leave, a free bus pass, and flexible scheduling.

Lifeguard job applications, training information and bonus details can be found at lifeguardAustin.com.’’

For more information go here.