| There’s something about swimming outside, in a | | | | fishing. |
| nature-made watering hole that just makes for | | | | Over the years, Barton Springs has been the location |
| summer satisfaction and all around happiness. When | | | | of many historical events, including Robert |
| that watering hole is sixty-eight degrees year round | | | | Redford’s first 5-year-old stab at swimming. In |
| and three acres big, there is no such thing as | | | | 1943, for example, the first female Barton Springs |
| disappointment. Such is the case with Barton Springs | | | | lifeguard, Jean Parker, stood guard over the |
| Pool, a pool fed from underground springs that sees | | | | swimmers after the Texas Pool and Beach |
| thousands of tourists and Austin citizens each year, | | | | Association decided to allow female guards. More |
| including, in his youth, Robert Redford who learned to | | | | noteworthy than historical, the director of the Austin |
| swim in Barton Springs. | | | | Parks and Recreation Department, Beverly Sheffield, |
| Barton Springs was created millions of years ago by | | | | set the record for longest regular Barton Springs |
| the land shift that created Balcones Fault. It is located | | | | swimmer by swimming there three days a week |
| in Zilker Park, a 358-acre park donated to the city of | | | | every week from his tenth birthday until his death, in |
| Austin by Andrew Jackson Zilker, the first Coca-Cola | | | | his mid-eighties. |
| Bottler in Austin and a man who after coming to | | | | Today, the land is protected under federal law, since |
| Austin with no more than 50 cents in his pocket was | | | | a petition to do so was filed by zoologist Mark |
| able to buy up more than enough land for a supreme | | | | Kirkpatrick and his wife Barbara Mahler in 1992. In |
| park. But before Zilker owned the land, it was a place | | | | 1998, the US Fish and Wildlife Services named Barton |
| the Native Americans considered sacred. They called | | | | Springs a protected area, as it is home to the Barton |
| Barton Springs - the three that make up the one - | | | | Springs salamander, an endangered species. |
| the Sacred Springs and relied on the water in them | | | | More so, however, it is home to the people of |
| to heal wounds. Spanish missionaries set up | | | | Austin. They flock there to swim and to celebrate. It |
| temporary missions along the springs and Billy Barton | | | | is one of the best places around for a lazy afternoon |
| erected his cabin on the tract of land surrounding | | | | in the water or lively swim through the springs. It is |
| them, naming the three springs after his daughters. | | | | where you want to be when the heat is too much, |
| As owner of the land, Zilker slowly sold it all to the | | | | and thanks to the constant average temperature of |
| Public Free Schools of Austin. He did so having made | | | | 68 degrees, it is where you can be when snow is |
| the deal that the city of Austin would buy it all from | | | | surrounding the chillier parts of the country and |
| the schools at higher than cost prices. As the city did, | | | | moderate temperatures have settled over Texas. It |
| the area became a popular swimming area, as well as | | | | is Barton Springs - the natural place to swim. |
| a place for baptisms, picnics, live performances and | | | | |