Park restroom project paused after $500,000 estimate and vandalism concerns

Parks department staff told the board the Community Park restroom project is on hold after an installation estimate came in near $500,000 and because vandalism at park restrooms has increased. "Primarily, budgetarily, it came in a bit higher than anticipated after installation to be near $500,000," staff said, and added that recent vandalism in park restrooms makes an always-open facility difficult to operate without additional stewardship or security.

Staff discussed alternatives including forming volunteer stewards or arranging access codes for organized user groups (for example pickleball associations) so restrooms are not open to the general public at all times, or considering restroom trailers as an interim solution. Commissioners volunteered to help form a community group to steward the facilities and asked staff to continue exploring lower-cost or operationally constrained options before committing capital funds.