Getting to the bottom of why you can't wear thongs at most Williamson County pools

Don't get cheeky in Williamson County.

Most cities except for Georgetown don't allow people to wear thongs at municipal pools. A thong, which can be worn by men or women, leaves most of a person's rear exposed, except for a small strip of fabric that sits between the buttocks.

Williamson County cities including Round Rock and Cedar Park aren't alone in their wishes to see people cover up their backsides as much as possible at the pool. San Marcos doesn't allow the tiny bikini bottoms at its pools either.

Those cities say keeping their pools enjoyable for all ages, especially children, is the main reason for the ban.

Pflugerville doesn't have rules against wearing the teensy swimsuits but doesn't encourage it either, a Parks and Recreation employee said. Typhoon Texas, a waterpark in Pflugerville, doesn't allow thong bikinis.

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Austin, which has the most municipal pools in Central Texas, allows thongs to be worn at any of its swimming facilities.

"Genitalia must be covered," said a spokesperson for the Austin Parks and Recreation Department.

The city follows a municipal code that prohibits indecent exposure, defined as exposing genitals or the anus, she said. The rule applies to all genders.

The city of Round Rock has had a rule for more than two decades against wearing thong bikinis at its pools, said Sara Bustilloz, a city spokeswoman.

"The policy was created by Parks and Recreation Department officials over 20 years ago in response to complaints, and in an effort to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere at our municipal pools," she said.

"We have signs posted at the facilities with rules, and we aim to give patrons an opportunity to comply with those rules if at all possible. The customer would only be asked to leave if they are unable to comply with the rules. This is not a common occurrence."

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On a recent Wednesday afternoon with the temperature already in the triple digits, the Micki Krebsbach Pool at 301 Deep Wood Drive in Round Rock was crowded with children. Some people walking in said they didn't know about the rule against wearing thongs but that they agreed with it.

"People need to cover up," Karen Bogard said.

Nayeli Borja, who arrived at the pool with her relatives, said she could understand why the city would forbid thongs at the pool, but she didn't want to be judgmental about people wearing them.

"It's just a body part," she said.

Her mother, Connie Campos, had a different view.

"I think there's a time and place for everything, and maybe if this was an adult pool it would be OK," she said.

The cities of Cedar Park, Leander and Liberty Hill also prohibit thong bikinis at their swimming facilities. Fran Irwin, a Cedar Park spokeswoman, said there was no "definitive response" as to why the bikini bottoms were banned.

"The rules that are standard for many municipal pools have been in place for several years," she said. "There were some complaints; however, (I) can’t confirm that the complaints prompted the rule."

Those who arrive at the city's municipal pool wearing a thong are offered a cover-up if one is available or can be readmitted after going back home and changing, Irwin said.

Leander has one municipal pool at Robin Bledsoe Park that also prohibits thong bikinis.

"Thong bikinis are on the list of prohibited clothing items at Bledsoe Pool because the Leander Parks and Recreation Department promotes the pool as a family-friendly environment," said Ty Meighan, a city spokesman.

Staffers will ask people to change if they arrive wearing a thong bikini, and if they refuse, they will be required to leave, he said.

If you want to wear a thong at a municipal pool in Williamson County, go to Georgetown. Keith Hutchinson, a city spokesman, said he couldn't find any rules against them.

Alicia Magdaleno, who arrived with her children at the Williams Drive Pool at 3201 Williams Drive on Wednesday, said she didn't care if people wore the tiny bikini bottoms.

"A body is just a body," she said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Thong bikinis prohibited at most public pools in Williamson County