Re:Grounds improvement discussions.

[Steve Barnick]

Ralph,

It boggles my mind that paving the south parking lot is being considered. When this subject was discussed back in the days developing the short term project any mention of paving on the south side was met with vehement opposition. The fact that Watershed is stepping up to make some changes to the trail to stop runoff from that area and people are now considering some improved parking options is encouraging. The parking issues at BSP are much more complicated than just adding spaces in the short term. I believe that as part of the long term solutions of the BSP master plan that parking should be addressed. Things like getting a bus route that stops at the north and south entrances. Giving anyone with a bus pass or ticket a discount when entering the pool are ideas that should be considered.

Peter,

You continue to reinforce my reason for supporting the process as it is being implemented. You and "public process" folks put your energies into fighting the process which takes the focus away from moving it forward. If the method for the city managing projects is flawed then take your fight to the folks that can make those type of changes for future projects. I am not interested in fighting that battle, my focus is on moving the BSP master plan forward.

Dan,

I believe the changes to the south side address issues with accessibility for a larger audience than you and the folks that you get together with at poolside. Any changes to accessibility on the south side will require that they be in full compliance with current ADA rules so a simple solution like what you are suggesting is simply not possible.

Friends,

I admit to being the person who suggested that the entrance be moved to near the downstream dam back in the spring of 2011. My reasons for making this suggestion back then were to use the existing paved parking vs. paving more of that area. I did not have a sense as to how the topography in that area was and how that complicated things. Then the 60% proposal came out with the notion that the trail could be put on the area that was once the fence line my thought was "what an elegant solution."

I like the trail as it is designed. It has rest areas along the way, it takes advantage of the tree canopy, it defines a hardened path for traversing that area that will reduce traffic around the trees. More people of limited ability are going to be able to enjoy this side of the pool because of this and I embrace this as a good thing.

Regards,

Steve

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From: dancrow <dcr...@austin.rr.com>
To: Steve Barnick <ding_d...@yahoo.com>
Cc: 'Mark Weiler' <mwe...@live.com>; pe...@steinhardt.us; p...@sosalliance.org; barton...@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 1:53 AM
Subject: Still in need your help

Sept 17, 2011

 

Steve,

 

I was well aware of the contents of the 60% stage when I wrote to the mayor and when I asked for your help. The plan does not do an excellent job of addressing my issues as you suppose. If it had, I would not have written the letter.

 

Even now the "paved" parking lot that is supposed to serve the new south gate is completely filled up serving the ball fields and dog park at the times I need to park. I cannot believe that parking there will be improved by removing 12 parking spaces and adding the burden of all the patrons who now utilize the current south entrance.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but it was you that originated the idea of moving the south gate over to the fence. Not because of the stairs, but because the ADA ramp was proposed to start there and traverse the entire south lawn a distance of some 570 ft. Since this is no longer the case please tell me the purpose in moving the gate.

 

 It will add  200 yards for me to reach the place where my friends congregate on the south lawn by the existing south gate. A round trip the pool by the diving board where I get in  will add about 500 yards to the journey because I will have to walk all the way across the top of the lawn about 120 yds, down the stairs, then all the way back up the sidewalk to the diving board a distance of about 130 yds and then back again on the same route a total of 400 yds in all.more than the 50 yd round trip I now make. This does not include the extra 200 yds from the gravel lot to the proposed new gate and then back to my area. So Steve, this plan of moving the gate most assuredly does not do an excellent job of addressing my issues as you said in your reply to my emial that requested your help..

 

What I need is a way to get to the pool now. All I ask is to  have a simple hand rail installed in interim before the walk way down the gulley is built  (which will not have a handrail) and to.leave the gate alone .FBSP is calling the shots on the Master Plan so please give us aging people a break and help us get access while we can still use it. You won't regret it, doing this good thing  will make good things come back.to you.

 

Thanks,

 

Dan

----- Original Message -----

From: Steve Barnick

To: dancrow ; Friends of Barton Springs Pool

Cc: Hensley, Sara ; Robin Cravey

Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 9:29 AM

Subject: Re: need your help tonight at PARD meeting

Dan,

I believe the grounds improvement project that is in 60% design stage does an excellent job of addressing your issues with handicap accessibility on the south side. I have listened to a transcript of this project as it was presented to the joint subcommittee(they approved it unanimously) and attended last nights 2nd public presentation of the design that included more detail and was further convinced that this is the right way to develop that area for accessibility. Putting the path over where the old fence was, and moving the fence to include the line pecan trees on that side is a brilliant use of the space. Creating hardened paths along with increasing the awareness of the threat of trees to human traffic is going to extend the life of these trees. The efforts of APF to clean up the ravine and using that space to provide a ADA path down to the pool is going to solve a lot of drainage issues along with allowing handicapped folks an opportunity to really enjoy the pool and the grounds. Finally the effort by Watershed to build a raised trail to stop water from running into the pool from the parking lot and soccer fields is going to insure that flooding from the south side will be a thing of the past.

Regards,

Steve Barnick

---

From: dancrow <dcr...@austin.rr.com>
To: Steve Barnick <ding_d...@yahoo.com>; Friends of Barton Springs Pool <communi...@friendsofbartonspringspool.org>
Cc: "Hensley, Sara" <Sara.H...@ci.austin.tx.us>; Robin Cravey <ro...@robincravey.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2011 10:52 AM
Subject: need your help tonight at PARD meeting

Sept 1, 2011

 

Steve,

 

I hope you and Robin will support me in my request to the mayor for some relief for the walking handicapped people at the pool.(continued  after letter to the mayor)

 

Sept 1, 2011

 

Dear Mayor Leffingwell,

 

Due to my impaired mobility I was issued  a Disabled Person Parking Placard based on a prescription from my doctor. Your active advocacy in behalf of people like me is the reason I am writing to you rather than again to PARD where I have exhausted my remedies. With difficulty, I can park in the south lot at Barton Springs Pool and with my cane can make it to the existing south gate and from there down the wash that serves as a tree rooted path to the pool where I do the exercises my cardiologist says I must do or else.

 

Among my other mobility problems I have a problem with balance so a hand rail along the path over the tree roots down to the pool would be greatly appreciated. However the plan that is in the works calls for a new path from the old parking lot that serves the ball field that will extend across the entire two hundred yard distance along the south fence where it will connect with a winding ADA compliant path through the area behind the diving board. For me this adds an additional two hundred yards to my pool access even if I continue to use the existing path with no rails. The proposed winding ADA path which is needed for wheel chair users will not be of use me because inclines hurt my knees and being a winding path will add another hundred yards or so..

 

Meeting after meeting my please for PARD to accommodate disabled persons that do not use wheel chairs has fallen on deaf ears.The doctor tells me to keep walking as long as I can. My bones need the impact of walking to stay healthy, a wheel chair is contra indicated he says. Not closing or moving the existing south gate and putting a simple hand rail on the existing path to the pool is all I and others like me need to continue our access to the pool on the south side.

 

Mr. Mayor will you help us?

 

Dan Crow

 

 

 Handicap. (1) In this Act the word "handicap" connotes the effects of functional difficulties which are not merely temporary in nature and which arise from an abnormal physical, mental or psychological condition

 

(continued)  I don't need to tell you that a person with a balance problem should stay off those extremely steep concrete stairs at the east end of the pool and that paved parking lot that the ball players and soccer teams use is already overloaded so pool patrons will still have to park in the gravel lot, but the distance to back to where we would have come through the old gate and the path down the hill or the proposed ADA ramp will be several hundred yards more to walk. You were so against the tram I gave up on it, so I hope you will support me on a handrail and not moving the gate or on having two back gates.

 

Dan

 

 

 

 

 

[Gary Beyer]

Stop Killing the Trees and Salamanders, Move the Entrance

 

I am a strong advocate for moving the entrance to the east for the following reasons:

 

1.  Stop Killing the Trees - The gully that currently serves as a trail at the south entrance crosses critical root zones.  How do I know.  I can see them exposed at the surface where everyone can trip over them and injure them.  Many people chose to walk around or on the sides of the gully through more of the critical root zone, killing more roots and grass. Every time it rains, the gully gets deeper and deeper.  The whole area is in desperate need of revitalization and recovery.  The rocks need to be removed and the gully filled in with compost and then barricaded so that the roots will be allowed to recover.  This will necessitate a new trail.  The planned new trail will be directed away from critical root zones, be low angle and be designed in such a way as to reduce erosion.

 

2. Stop Killing the Salamanders - The gully is a direct conduit for urban storm water runoff which carries unfiltered chemicals such as volatile organic compounds, anti-freeze, polynuclear aromatice compounds, and heavy metals directly into salamander habitat.  Not good! Fill in the gully and stop poisoning the salamanders.

 

3.  Better Access for the Disabled - I have multiple sclerosis and disabled plates.  I park at the only designated handicapped parking at the east parking area.  I can never find parking close to the entrance at the south parking area.  The current path takes me on a shady path through the critical root zones of the wonderful giant pecan trees along the south fence.  We mulched these trees a year or so ago, and the mulch is being ground into powder by all the foot traffic from the east parking lot.  The new trail would direct traffic away from these wonderful trees and give them a break.  The new trail would be more direct and shorter than the current pathway from the east parking lot and better for Barton Springs.  

Thanks for your consideration, Gary Beyer

[Mary Yarrington]

Thanks Gary.   Appreciate your voice. Please mark Sunday septmber 25th at 4 pm. Fall social planning at torchys trailer park on s 1 st. You did not reply to my initial invite, maybe you did no get it.

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[Gary Beyer]

Ok I B there!

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