Updated Oct. 11, 4:40 p.m.
Water contact and swimming at the Hamilton Pool Preserve is still suspended, and there is no time table as to when the ban will be lifted, West District Parks Manager Dan Perry said Wednesday.
“To be honest, we have absolutely no idea when we’re going to [lift the swimming ban],” he said. “We are still at the very beginning stages of our investigations. We’re coordinating safety meetings and meetings with city officials and some outside professionals to research all aspects of the [incidents that have taken place over the last three months]. ”
Other than water use, Hamilton Pool Preserve park is still open to the public.
“The pool is just one part of the Hamilton Pool Preserve,” Perry said. “There’s still hiking, nature trails and visitors can hang out at the beach. We’re just trying to avoid any water contact at this time, and we will update the public of any changes.”
Posted Oct. 9
Travis County Parks suspended swimming and water contact at Hamilton Pool Preserve, 24300 Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs, after emergency crews responded to a water-related incident Friday morning involving an individual swimmer.
A man grew tired while swimming and was pulled from the water after bystanders noticed he was under duress,Perry said to Community Impact Newspaper. Emergency crews responded to a call about the situation around 11:30 a.m. at the preserve, he said
Oct. 7 marked the third water-related emergency at the pool in the last three months, including a drowning Oct. 2, Perry said.
“I don’t think they’re related incidents at all,” Perry said of the three emergencies at the park this summer. “These were very different circumstances, but we’re working on getting some extra safety precautions in place. One drowning over a summer is really bad, so when you have multiple incidents it is time to take a look an analyze everything.”
He said while the pool is closed for now, the preserve will remain open.
“We’re going to try to get a portion of the pool back open as soon as we can," Perry said.
The western Travis County park has become more popular in recent years, and with added visitors coming from out of town, there is a higher risk of an incident, he said.
“Hamilton Pool isn’t the same environment as a diving pool with clear water,” Perry said. “It’s natural, with drop offs and people might not realize how deep it is. So we’re looking to create a safer environment for everyone.”
