Moody Foundation chips in for bathhouse upgrade

The Moody Foundation has given the Barton Springs Conservancy a $2.1 million donation that will help pay for the rehabilitation of the bathhouse facility at Barton Springs. The donation puts the conservancy past its $8 million goal for the project, though ongoing contributions are being accepted to pay for ecological features and outreach programs. Previous funding for the bathhouse project included city bonds approved by voters in 2012, $3 million from the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax and a total of $3 million in private philanthropic donations. The renovation, which is expected to begin next year, is needed to address ongoing maintenance and accessibility issues while preserving the bathhouse’s historic character. Among the planned improvements: reopening the original men’s and women’s entrances at the central rotunda locations, restoring and improving the women’s dressing area, modernizing restroom facilities and enhancing educational components throughout the space. The conservancy will celebrate the Moody Foundation donation at a VIP event on May 9.