Politics & Government

City to Re-Open Park Bathroom After Community Blowback

Park bathrooms were closed in the 2010 budget cycle to save money, but the city is opening restrooms at Magnolia Park after a rash of resident complaints.

Rohnert Park's Department of Parks and Recreation is testing out new cellular technology that would automatically lock park restrooms at night and re-open them the next morning, in response to a flood of community backlash following the 2010 closures, according to Guy Miller, the city's recreation services manager.

The restrooms at Magnolia Park — the most heavily used park citywide — will be the first test.

"It's a pilot program that we're trying out; it will be up and running very soon," Miller said. "Parks were closed last year primarily because of vandalism — people were destroying toilets, breaking mirrors and throwing the paper products everywhere."

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"They also require daily maintenance, that costs money," Miller added. "But we've been getting a lot of grief from the public about them being closed."

Porta Pottys replaced brick-and-mortar facilities at local parks, but the problem is they're only cleanded twice a week and not at all on weekends, Miller said.

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The bathrooms near the softball field and the tennis courts at M Park will open first, and if the automatic locking system works, the city will replicate it in other large parks.

"I'd love to see this happen," said Parks and Recreation Commissioner Bonnie Black, who said the port-a-potties at Golis Park are virtually unusable. "I"m at G Park every morning and no one can use [the portable toilets]."

Restrooms will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.


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