Barton Springs Public Process

Art In Public Places Application for Barton Springs Pool, 2012

Payments to Design Firm Larsen, Burns & Smith, Inc

Recommendation for Design Firm Larson, Burns & Smith, LLC

These three hefty documents were provided in response to a public information request that was filed by Bill Bunch of the Save Our Springs Alliance seeking background information on the “Grounds Improvements” portion of the Barton Springs Pool upgrades included within the “short term” elements of the Barton Springs Pool Master Plan.

The requests were filed, based on concerns that the grounds improvements plans and contract for the consultant were developed without adequate inclusion of the Barton Springs Pool community and without opportunity for other consultants/landscape architects to bid on the work.

The scope set for this project completely ignores and does not mention the straight forward recommendation of the master plan that the south side should not have its simple and natural felling compromised.

It also does not guide the vendors to retain the natural beauty and functions nor does it represent the strong feelings of many to protect the springs and surrounds from development and pollution

The leadership of this effort seems to have misplaced the many requests and admonitions to not make the enhancements more important than the grounds themselves

There is no mention of maintenance in any of this.