Fall Volunteer Day: A Success!

Our hard-working volunteers at Fall 2025 “Its My Park Day”.

Thirty volunteers met the first Saturday of November to improve Deep Eddy Pool and Eilers Park, and what a difference they made!  A whopping 19 garbage bags of litter were removed from the 9 acres of parkland surrounding the pool! The team also spread 12 cubic yards of compost to nourish shade trees inside the pool. They planted a Mexican Plum near the ailing Texas Redbud by the bath house entrance. 

“The grounds look great -  cleaner and greener. These hardworking volunteers deserve our gratitude,” said Paul Bardagjy, board president of Friends of Deep Eddy (FODE). 

Friends of Deep Eddy runs entirely on volunteer time and talent. From the FODE website to mulching the pool’s shade trees, unpaid volunteers do it all. Continued growth in park and pool usage widens the gap between what our pool and park needs and our City staff’s capacity. 

Volunteer projects are essential for the park, but they’re also good for our spirits. It’s fun to pitch in alongside people who also care about Deep Eddy. And dozens of volunteers means we accomplish more work faster. And at this recent event free Maudie’s breakfast tacos added to the community vibe. 

We want to hear from you! Interested in collecting trash? Spreading bluebonnet seeds this month? Mulching trees this winter?  Drop a note to FODE President Paul Bardagjy at bardagjy@mac.com.

In addition to our amazing volunteers, FODE would like to thank partners who made Saturday’s project a success: Maudie’s Tex-Mex, Austin Parks Foundation, City of Austin Urban Forestry and Austin Parks and Recreation. Special shout-out to our City Aquatics staff partners, especially Olivia (day-of project liaison) and Mark (staff expert on all things Deep Eddy grounds).

Respectfully Submitted,

Shelley Hardeman, FODE board member and volunteer coordinator