Neighbors, swimmers, and families rolled up their sleeves to give Deep Eddy Pool and Eilers Park some well-deserved TLC.
On the beautiful and cool Saturday morning of November 7, 40 energetic volunteers gathered at Deep Eddy to weed, mulch, plant, prune, clean up—and enjoy each other's company. Within a couple hours our historic pool and park were looking better than ever.
The occasion was It's My Park Day, a citywide volunteer event organized twice a year by the Austin Parks Foundation (APF) during which thousands of Austinites pitch in to care for 98 parks across the city. Friends of Deep Eddy (FODE) organized the local effort at our favorite swimming hole.
A Little Work, a Lot of Community Spirit
Fueled by breakfast tacos donated by Maudie's and coffee from Panera, volunteers grabbed gloves, shovels, rakes, and wheelbarrows and got to work.
There was plenty to do. Teams spread fresh mulch around trees and garden beds, weeded and pruned along pathways, planted perennials, and cleared litter and debris from the grounds around the pool.
Some volunteers were longtime Deep Eddy regulars. Others were neighbors, families with children, or newcomers getting involved for the first time. Everyone found a way to contribute.
The results were easy to see: tidier garden beds, freshly mulched trees, cleaner grounds, and a park looking its best. Just as importantly, it was a chance to meet neighbors, make new friends, and share in caring for a place that means so much to our community.
Thanks to Everyone Who Made It Happen
A big thank-you to Austin Parks Foundation, which organized the event citywide and provided registration, tools, T-shirts, and ten cubic yards of mulch.
We're also grateful to our generous local sponsors:
Maudie's Tex-Mex for breakfast tacos
Panera Bread for coffee
Randalls for ice cream treats
And most of all, thank you to our chief organizer, Lorie Inman, and the 40 volunteers who gave their Saturday morning to Deep Eddy.
Deep Eddy is a special place—not just because of its cool fresh water and long history, but because of the people who love it and care for it.
Get Involved with Friends of Deep Eddy
Missed this volunteer day? There will be more opportunities to pitch in! Friends of Deep Eddy works with the City of Austin's Parks and Recreation Department to preserve and improve our historic pool for swimmers, families, and visitors. We're also helping fund the Concept Plan for Deep Eddy's future.
[Support Friends of Deep Eddy] to help preserve this Austin treasure for generations to come.