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PARD director details summer pool openings, lifeguard hiring and bond spending; summer camp inclusion policy changed
Summary
Director Aguirre updated the board on aquatics, bonds and programming: two pools are scheduled to open in May, the department reported lifeguard hiring progress and bond spending percentages, and staff described an unintended consequence of an early‑registration change affecting inclusion services for summer camp enrollment.
Director Aguirre provided a monthly director’s update covering aquatics operations, bond spending, parks planning and community events.
Aquatics and hiring: Aguirre said Barton Springs reopened after cleaning and Deep Eddy was undergoing its annual cleaning. The department reported more than 377 lifeguards already cleared to work this summer and said it needs roughly 650 to operate all seasonal pools; Aguirre also said more than 900 people were in various stages of applying to be lifeguards.
Pool projects and openings: Colony Park pool is scheduled to open in May as a new pool in the City’s portfolio, and Givens Pool is slated to reopen in May after substantial refurbishment.
Bond program update: Aguirre summarized 2018 bond spending and encumbrances. For the bond category that lists specific projects, she said the department has spent about 39% and encumbered another 18% (57% committed). Aguirre said programmatic bond categories such as aquatics allow more flexible spending and usually result in higher expenditure rates.
Summer camps and inclusion services: Board members asked about changes to early registration and the department’s inclusion services. Assistant Director Jody explained a three‑year pilot that allowed early registration for scholarship and inclusion participants ended and that the department adjusted the early‑registration policy this year. Staff said the pilot produced unintended consequences: some sites had a small number of high‑need participants (for example, six inclusion participants in a 12‑child class), which increased staffing ratios and limited capacity at those locations. Staff said they will review data from three years of the pilot and offered to provide a presentation and follow‑up with board members.
Parks programming, nature play and events: Aguirre highlighted nature play installations (six opened in 2025 with four more planned), several community events, prescribed burns for land management, and partner‑led activities including ribbon cuttings and Earth Day cleanups.
Why it matters: The update addresses summer readiness for pools and camps, capital spending on bonds, and program access for residents with disabilities. The inclusion registration change raised questions about access and staffing that staff agreed to review further.
(Ending) Aguirre said the department will continue outreach and report back on inclusion services and the third‑party reviews of aquatics investigations.
