Sheffield Northwest Pool 70th Anniversary Celebration

Austin Parks and Recreation, Friends of Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park, Austin Parks Foundation and the Allandale Neighborhood Association invite Austinites to celebrate 70 years of community, recreation, and history at Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest Pool, 7000 Ardath St., on Sunday, August 9 at 12 p.m.  

The family-friendly event will feature snacks and beverages, historic photos and memorabilia, and the chance to celebrate the pool's history in this newly renovated facility. Swimmers from the McCallum High School Swim Team will provide a short demonstration. Pool entry fees will be waived so everyone can join the celebration. 

The event marks the anniversary of the pool's formal dedication in 1956 and will provide an opportunity to hear from Sally Sheffield Attaway, Beverly Sheffield's daughter, and to meet his son, Steve Sheffield and other family members. In 2001, the pool and park were renamed in honor of former Parks and Recreation Director Beverly S. Sheffield, recognizing his lasting impact on Austin's park system. 

The City of Austin purchased the parkland in 1955 and completed the pool and bathhouse within a year, opening for its first swim meet on July 28, 1956, before its formal dedication on August 9, 1956. As Austin's first 50-meter Olympic-size pool, it allowed the city to qualify for national swim meets for the first time.  

The pool quickly became a beloved community destination, drawing more than 31,000 visitors in its first full month alone, more than Barton Springs Pool at the time. The modern circular bathhouse, built that same year, remains architecturally significant and eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.  

The site recently underwent a comprehensive renovation designed to preserve its historic character while ensuring it remains safe, accessible, and vibrant for future generations. Improvements include a refreshed 50-meter lap pool, a new zero-entry toddler pool, two shade structures funded in part by the Austin Parks Foundation, new bench seating, renovated bathhouses and family restrooms, and upgraded fencing, lighting, landscaping, and entrance plaza.