- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Stacy Neighborhood Pool
Categories: Active Life Swimming Pools Active Life Beaches Swimming Pools, Beaches [Edit]
800 E Live OakAustin, TX 78704
Neighborhoods: 78704 (South Austin), Travis Heights
(512) 476-4521
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
19 reviews for Stacy Neighborhood Pool
19 reviews in English
-
Review from Ashley T.
6/14/2010
It doesn't get much better than a FREE pool close to my house where I can swim laps or just float around and play YEAR ROUND and always the perfect temp.
The parking lot tends to get a bit crowded but there is ample street parking. My boyfriend and I are not pro swimmers at all but started swimming laps here regularly and the fellow lap swimmers are very gracious and willing to share their lanes with newbies.
I heart you, Big Stacy Pool! -
Review from Jake V.
Austin, TX
1/7/2012
I didn't like it much when I went to swim there today - it was VERY crowded, some swimmers were selfish and wouldn't "circle swim", instead expecting a crowd of 5-10 others to wait while they split the lane with someone else and swam two lengths at a time, stopping to rest for a few minutes in between. I found this pathetic.
On the plus side, there were some nice people there and the pool itself is fairly nice and decently clean. The water was too warm for me, but most people would probably find it suitable.
I know I am biased because this was my first time going there and I'm an experienced swimmer, but I was really surprised at the number of positive reviews on here and felt obligated to chime in.
I probably won't be returning to Stacy. I wish that Deep Eddy pool was still open this winter and not closed for renovations. Other better lap swimming pools include the Northwest Municipal Park pool and Balcones Park pool, both of which are closed for the season. -
Review from Blue A.
Austin, TX
8/1/2011
I love swimming laps here! The environment is peaceful, with lots of nice shade trees, and the regulars are usually pretty cool about sharing lanes on busy days.
The downside is the chlorine-- there is *way* too much of it. If I forget my goggles, my eyes burn for about 24 hours after swimming. You'll also want to bring a swim cap to keep your hair from frying.
Thank you, Austin, for this awesome, free place to swim! -
Review from Jessica A.
Austin, TX
11/18/2009
Hands down, a major factor and contributor as to why I choose to live in 78704. First of all, here is a pool that is ran by the city that is open YEAR around. It's clean, it's never super crowded (unless it's 110 degrees outside) and you always run into someone you know. Sure, you might find your fair share of bums enjoying the freeness of the pool and a clean shower, but hey, it's a public pool so they get the same rights we do. And did I mention it is FREE?!
My favorite time to go is actually right before they close, or in the winter when most people don't even dare to step outside to go for a walk. Usually you can get a lane to yourself, have a nice uninturupted swim and enjoy the WARM water. (Yes, the water is warm in the winter...supposedly it is spring water that is pumped in..?) Avoid first thing in the morning...that is usually when the hard-core workout crew comes in. Also, look ahead for the swim team schedule in the summer, I believe they take over most of the pool in the early summer afternoons....Listed in: My Neighborhood, Out on my bike..., For the budding (tri)athlete
-
Review from Lorena O.
6/1/2009
When I think of municipal pools I typically think of the overly chlorinated, slightly dirty, loud, and hectic scenes spent at many a swimming pool party from my childhood.
Not entirely the case here at Big Stacy Pool. We walked into the pool (without having to pay an entrance fee-love the free) and found a spot on the small but not yet crowded lawn. We were there early, so we got to enjoy some quiet before noon time hit and in came the kiddies.
Today the pool was half swimming lanes, half free-play. In the mornings, it's all swim lanes. After baking for a bit, we hit the water to cool off. I was expecting frigid waters a la Barton Springs but was pleasantly surpised. The water was juuuuust right! And it's only slightly chlorinated so no red eyes, either.
My only complaint is that the surrounding trees block a lot of the sun on the small lawn. So, if you're looking to get a tan, get there early, and head to the North side of the lawn where the sun seems to shine most. -
Review from Santa V.
Austin, TX
6/2/2007
Stacy is awesome!
The regular morning lap swimmers are usually quite friendly and happy to get you in the pool and swimming. Many of them are also willing to share their knowledge of better technique and stronger workouts.
During the busier times, it's always exciting to circle in a lane with five or six swimmers - especially, if they're all faster swimmers! That day presents a great opportunity for a serious workout.
The morning shift lifeguards are good folks who are all willing to help swimmers needing assistance with issues ranging from the parking lot to stroke questions.
A quick tip for swimming in the morning at Stacy Pool:
two swimmers in a lane (to include the unmarked free-swim side) = splitting the lane
three (or more) swimmers in a lane = circling in the lane
If you're going to get into a lane, please ask or in some verifiable way, let the other swimmer or swimmers know that you are getting in -- otherwise, you're presenting a serious safety risk to yourself and the others.
-- The regulars swimmers as well as the lifeguards have been known to stop the movement of the pool to scold - even severely scold - breaches of good pool etiquette!
This is good stuff.
The pool itself is usually too warm for lap swimming - through our short winter and long summer. (Although, that hasn't kept me from swimming the daily laps there for the last four years.) The pool is very crowded (with lap swimmers) during the summer mornings - especially when the swim team and the swim lessons start up in late May/early June.
Parking is questionable at best during the busy times. (Be careful in the lot! On more than one occasion, I've gotten a good chuckle from watching someone back his car too far and roll down the hill towards the creek!)
There are plenty of homeless types hanging around the pool using the free shower facilities. This makes for many colorful memories!
If you need to shower after your swim, allow some extra time for the hobo who will be in there for at least fifteen minutes - starting when he notices your presence in the bath house.
Stacy Pool has a great vibe and some of the coolest folks I've met swim here! The spirit of this place is great!Listed in: My Neighborhood
-
Review from Sasha C.
San Diego, CA
9/18/2007
Behold the wonder of Austin's only heated pool. Liek Barton Springs and Deep Eddy it is fed by groundwater. Unlike the two aforementioned pools, the water comes from 2000 feet belwo the surface where geothermal heat keeps the tempearture a balmy 78 degrees year round. Earth science in action.
Crowds: Not bad, all friendly folks
Depth: 3-8 feet
Showers: only 1 per changing room, but very private.
Eye candy: No one who turned my head per say except my gilrfriend.
Cost: FREE!!
Grassy area: Not a lot of grassListed in: Year round Swimming
-
Review from Lisa A.
Austin, TX
5/14/2007
I am a fair-weather swimmer. My brother has a wet suit that he pulls out in the 40 degree weather so he can go to Barton Springs and Deep Eddy. That doesn't work for me. I typically can't even go to Barton Springs until it's well over 95 degrees. But, every year about this time I start easing back into swimming and I head straight for the Big Stacy pool.
It's a free neighborhood pool and, somehow, the lap lanes never get too crowded. The water is warm (maybe too warm for some people). The swimmers that go there are not as intimidating as Deep Eddy and it's a generally relaxing atmosphere which makes for a relaxing swim.
Initially I thought I'd give the pool 5 stars but that's probably over doing it. The pool is 1/2 lap swim and 1/2 open, public, pool that's full of screaming kids getting in trouble by the life guard and generally just letting loose and having a fun time being kids. Sometimes the pool floor doesn't always seem that clean with band-aids floating around etc. but, that's just the downside to a public pool. The other con is that the facilities aren't that great. They are also currently under some sort of construction.
That said, I'd love to go there every day from now until mid-September for a relaxing swim and to soak in some sun. -
Review from Tina M.
Austin, TX
5/29/2011
Its a nice pool if u dnt wanna drive far kids love it
-
Review from Scott L.
2/5/2010
Well kept pool, open year around. Free, year round. It makes the floating bandaids not so bad. But, the cool crowd that comes here, the older Austin hippies, with tons of stories, that's what really makes this place.
Changing rooms are heated. -
Review from Alexandra L.
Austin, TX
11/10/2006
I used to go to Stacy Pool all the time when I was in graduate school and my schedule permitted swimming at 10 AM. It's open year round, admission is free, it's heated by a natural spring, and it has a long history (built by the WPA in 1930s).
But now that I have a day job, it's almost impossible to go there. If you get caught there in the early hours of the morning, the pool's monopolized by lap swimmers. I always feel like I'm getting in their way, somehow unable to match their quasi-olympic capabilities.
The lifeguards will also secretly make fun of you if you are a poor swimmer. Trying to park there during peak hours is a headache. Weekends are overrun by kiddos.
Eh, but what the hell. It's free, and the water's warm. -
Review from Bob K.
Austin, TX
3/7/2010
This pool is the number one reason why it would be difficult to move away from this neighborhood. Having a warm lap pool available all year round is awesome. The pool is clean, warm, and in the early mornings the entire pool is setup for lanes.
Generally this is just a great pool to get your workout in at.Listed in: Fitness I'm Willing to Do
-
Review from Amanda R.
Austin, TX
7/9/2009
I just moved here from Los Angeles, where it's still only about 65 degrees. After 12 days straight of temps over 100 I was ready for a swim. Barton Springs is closed on Thursdays from 9-7 for cleaning, so what to do? I found Stacy Neighborhood Pool on Yelp, threw on a swimsuit and headed down Oltorf.
What a treat! A free public pool, not super chlorine-y, and not crowded. My husband sat in the shade and read. I waded and swam and enjoyed the warm, yet refreshing water.
I'll be back, probably later this week. -
Review from Kristen F.
Austin, TX
5/2/2007
My husband and I started training for our first triathlon about a month ago, and our neighborhood pool is still too cold for lap swimming. We tried it and got out all dizzy and crazy... so we decided to switch to Big Stacy Pool. Big Stacy is magically fed by a naturally warm spring, so it makes the water bearable before other pools.
We go and swim laps. There are a lot of serious athletes there that are kind of fun to watch- you pick up tricks of the trade from them. People are polite and will share lanes, or if all the lanes are full, you can get up against the side and people are polite and will give you room, which is sweet.Listed in: Where you at?
-
Review from kerissa b.
Austin, TX
6/20/2008
Big Stacy Pool is probably my most favorite location in all of Austin.
It usually isn't ever crowded, plenty of space for your towel, for you to swim, AND you can bring food in and chomp on a sandwich in between laps.
It's naturally warm and it's clean and fresh and lovely.
I take everyone that comes and visits me to this pool and they love it. -
Review from Janel P.
Austin, TX
12/29/2009
This is where I do my lap swims. It's clean, it's free, it's heated, and it's not too crowded. I usually have my own lane or share with just one other person.
-
Review from Kim B.
Austin, TX
7/15/2008
Stacy Pool makes me happy. It's heated via a natural spring, and it's not over-chlorinated. It's also FREE and I can walk there from my house. If you want to swim laps, it's probably easier to go in the morning because in the p.m. there are only two lanes devoted to lap swimming and some kiddo with a noodle might get in your lane. Good times.
-
Review from Kendra Z.
Rochester, NY
8/13/2009
Made my first trip to Big Stacy Pool was a blast. The water was warm and just enough chlorine. Glad I had my goggles because of my contacts...could have done laps without them if I had forgotten them. I shared a lane with a gentleman who was very polite and after he finished the person who asked to share my lane was very polite as well.
The parking could get hairy but it was manageable while I was arriving and leaving.
The only issue I had was after the pool had to call a thunder warning and had everyone get out - a couple had their children get in the lap lanes while the pool was off limits. When we told them everyone had to get out because of lighting, the female was kind of rude and ignored us. The lifeguards came and took care of it but it was still unpleasant.
I'll be back! -
Review from Alexis A.
New York, NY
10/28/2007
Stacy's a great neighborhood pool. I like it because it isn't a destination pool like Barton Creek or Deep Edy. People here are here to swim.
