Hamilton Pool to open Monday

Safety measures put in place to avoid future drownings.

Hamilton Pool Preserve will be open for swimming again, starting on Monday, Travis County Parks officials announced Friday.

Two drownings last year prompted Travis County Parks to close the pool to swimmers while officials re-evaluated safety protocols.

On Aug. 14, a 17-year-old from Harker Heights failed to resurface around 10:20 a.m. Emergency crews pulled the teen from the water and flew him to University Medical Center Brackenridge where he died the next day.

Then on Oct. 2, 20-yearold Juan Antonio Ramirez-Lopez disappeared in the water around 4:45 p.m. A dive team searched the pool for the man shortly after he went under, only to find his body the next day.

Officials halted all swimming at the pool on Oct. 7, after an exhausted swimmer was pulled from the water by bystanders, before being taken to an area hospital.

Although the preserve itself has been open for hiking and backpacking, new park features are intended to make it safe enough for swimming again.

A loaner life jacket kiosk is being installed at the pool entrance.

There, visitors can now borrow life jackets in a variety of sizes at no charge.

The kiosk also will provide instructions showing how to properly fit and wear the life jackets, parks officials said.

Travis County Parks already has loaner life jacket kiosks at Bob Wentz Park and Mansfield Dam Park on Lake Travis.

Throw rings also are being placed around the pool for swimmers in need of rescue.

The pool, located at 24300 Hamilton Pool Road in Dripping Springs, will be open until it closes for the season on Sept. 30.

Parks officials say the pool may still be closed occasionally because of high bacteria counts, based on Texas State Health Department standards. But bacterial water testing at the pool is conducted on a routine basis, officials say.