Parks board commends aquatics team as four pools and two bathhouses come online; approves letter of support

The Austin Parks and Recreation Board on May 19 voted unanimously to approve a letter thanking staff for delivering four pools and two renovated bathhouses funded primarily through the 2018 bond and other sources.

The board’s letter, approved 8–0, singled out the teams that completed Colony Park Aquatic Facility, Givens, Montopolis and Beverly Sheffield pools and the Parque Zaragoza bathhouse. In a staff presentation, Assistant Director Liana Kaliboca said the department completed six projects and expects the aquatics program to be about 98% spent by the end of the fiscal year.

Project managers gave line‑item details. Colony Park’s construction budget was cited at about $15 million; Givens at $10.3 million; Montopolis at $9 million; Beverly Sheffield at $12.6 million; and the Parque Zaragoza bathhouse was described as a roughly $2 million renovation with LEED interior goals. Staff said the department relied on a mix of the 2018 bond, grant funding (local, state and federal), parkland dedication funds, certificates of obligation and historic preservation funding to leverage additional investment.

“Your team’s dedication to planning, designing and delivering high quality aquatic facilities is delivering meaningful improvements that will benefit Austin residents for years to come,” the board’s letter says.

Members also pressed for accessibility and long‑term maintenance. During public comment, Chris Flores, a District 10 resident who volunteers on riparian restoration, urged that daily cleaning and restroom maintenance be performed by professional parks maintenance staff rather than temporary aquatics lifeguards and asked that new pool doorways be sized to allow cleaning equipment access.

Staff said several renovated facilities now include adult‑size changing tables and family bathhouses, new mechanical equipment, zero‑entry access and updated plumbing and electrical systems. Diane Williams, a project manager, described efforts to certify sites and add art‑in‑public‑places elements.

Kaliboca told the board that while some contingency funds remain for warranty and emergent repairs, the department does not have funding to design entirely new pools without a future bond; she said the aquatics program team is seeking program flexibility so any remaining unspent funds could be used at other pools if needed.

The board’s recognition follows openings and imminent openings: Colony Park opened in May 2025; Givens reopened in June 2025; Beverly Sheffield opened last month; Montopolis is slated to open June 1; and Parque Zaragoza’s ribbon cutting was scheduled for June 10.

The board encouraged staff to keep the public informed about accessibility improvements and contingency planning ahead of the summer season.