The Deep Eddy project had three phases. Phase one, the Historic Preservation Plan created by Hannah Swenson Vaughan and Laurie Limbacher, was supported by grants from the Texas Historical Commission and the Austin Parks Foundation by and matching funds from swim events sponsored by the American Swimming Association (directed by Keith Bell and Sandy Neilson-Bell).
Phase two, the roof rehabilitation completed in June 2005, cost about $106,000, including a $42,000 grant from the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau heritage marketing program and matching funds raised by the Friends of Deep Eddy.
The final phase, the bathhouse reconstruction completed this month, was budgeted at a little less than $1.1 million. Despite a 27% national increase in construction costs since 2003, the Friends anticipate final expenditures to be at or a little below the original budget. FODE President Leon Barish says he is “very proud” that the Deep Eddy project has remained on budget.
The following is a list of the major donors to the Deep Eddy bathhouse restoration, as provided by the Friends of Deep Eddy. Note that this is a list of direct financial donations; it does not include, for example, major discounts from Escobedo Construction and other contractors, nor does it attempt to calculate the thousands of hours of pro bono time provided by individual members of the Friends of Deep Eddy.
City of Austin: $250,000
Austin Parks & priceless staff support! Recreation Department
Michael and Susan Dell Foundation: $150,000
Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau: $84,000
Houston Endowment: $50,000
Austin Community Foundation: $30,000
Moody Foundation: $20,000
Texas Gas Service: $20,000
Texas Historical Commission: $24,075
National Trust for Historic Preservation: $11,000
Shield-Ayres Foundation: $15,000
Ann Bower: $12,000
Lance Armstrong: $10,000
Austin Parks Foundation: $1,250
For a full list of all contributors, download this PDF.
This article appears in June 1 • 2007.
