Ella Wooten Park — Attraction in Austin

The pool at Ella Wooten park seems like the exclusive pool for Mueller residents, but Mueller is required to operate the pool for public access like other community pools around Austin in the summer. The hours are somewhat curtailed for non-residents, so check the website for specific hours. I swim laps here after work, but I can get in a good workout before they close it for non-residents at 7 on the weekdays (closed on Mondays). Non-residents also have to pay $3.

The pool is new and clean, and the lap lanes are underutilized because it's mostly families with young kids at the pool. It's 25 yards, no pace clock, and the lane closest to the wall doesn't have a bottom line or crosses on the wall for flip-turns, but it's the narrowest lane and therefore the least likely for someone to ask to split the lane with you.

My only complaint is that the pool is very chlorinated. It's possibly the most chlorinated pool that I've ever been in. It made my mouth uncomfortably dry; almost as if there was something in there stronger than chlorine. There are signs asking parents to ask their children if they need to use the bathroom every 20 minutes, and the website has a section titled "poop in the pool," so I think they're being proactive about a persistent contamination problem.

Overall it's fine for swimming laps in, better than other community pools where you're lucky if a kid doesn't jump into your lane while you're swimming. If you've never driven through or been to Mueller it's worth checking out. It's like something from the...

I went with my 15 month old this morning and I thought the baby pool was not quite as fun as the one at John Gaines. John Gaines' baby pool has the little fountains that spray up and he really likes those. It has a more gradual entrance into the baby pool as well. I also like how John Gaines has the ledge inside the big pool on the sides so he can walk around in the water while I...

A nicely maintained park in Mueller with partially covered playground, uncovered basketball court, and large open field. Select benches have shade cover, and some of the more mature trees give good shade for street parking. Otherwise, I wish this park had more shade cover in general, especially with the hot summers. On the sides of the pool, there are also charcoal grills...