TA24-J F-Pages - Flipbook - Page 71
PHOTO COURTESY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE
After construction by the CCC was completed in 1940, the San Solomon Springs at Balmorhea State Park became a popular stop for travelers heading to the Davis Mountains.
middle- and upper-class whites retreated from public pools, causing cities to
begin undervaluing the pools themselves. Reduced budgets meant decreased
maintenance, and many public pools fell into disrepair once it became clear
that white swimmers preferred private pools. This was an e昀昀ective resegregation
of pools along class lines, signifying the beginning of the end for public pools.
A nationwide recession in the 1970s slowed pool construction signi昀椀cantly,
and attendance at existing public pools began to drop — continuing to do so
for the next 30 years. In a return to the utilitarian typology of the Progressive
Era, the few pools that were built in the second half of the 20th century lacked
the recreational amenities of their predecessors. The trend of “civic disengagement” and widespread retreat from public life — initiated by the legal desegregation of public pools across the nation — continued. Pool closures became
common by the end of the 20th century; in 1984, the Dallas City Council
closed six of its previously popular pools due to low usage, and in 2000 the
city resorted to o昀昀ering free days for the entire summer to encourage residents
to visit municipal pools. In the 1990s, traditional swimming pools began to be
replaced by “spraygrounds” and aquatic centers. At Lake Highlands North
Park, the sprayground was such a success that Dallas made plans to replace
additional pools with spray parks, which are more cost-e昀昀ective and attract
more visitors by mimicking the features of a water park.
As public pools continue to decline, their loss can be felt in a multitude of
ways. Pools provide the opportunity for casual community engagement by removing many of the socioeconomic barriers that prevent such interaction elsewhere.
Poolside activities rarely involve spending money, and municipal swimming pools
are blessedly free of advertisements and the media. Swimming pools are an informal social space in which a collective identity can be developed through group
activities, socialization, and shared experiences. They provide a place for unstructured play for children (and adults), which helps establish social norms. At public
pools, there is no expectation for the visitor to actually do anything; they are one
of the last true third places in contemporary life. The intangible bene昀椀ts of the
public pool cannot be replaced by a water park or private club, but many pools
are struggling to attract visitors in today’s fast-paced and consumer-driven world.
The city of Austin’s pool system — like so many others — is currently 昀椀ghting to make ends meet. Most of Austin’s pools were built between 1930 and
1990, meaning that even the newest pool is approaching its suggested 30-year
expiration date. No new pools have been built since the 1990s, as most of the
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