Repair work to start ‘soon as possible’ for Alki/57th restroom building

If you’ve been wondering why the little brick restroom building in the heart of Alki’s sandy beach area has been closed for more than two weeks – here’s an update. It’s from David Takami at Seattle Parks and was forwarded by Alex Clardy from the office of Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who had asked about it because of constituent questions:

The restrooms at Alki Beach Park at Alki Ave. SW and 57th Ave. SW are closed due to the collapse of a sewer line beneath the surface that occurred just before July 4. The restroom building is circled in red on map below. There are signs up at the restroom explaining the closure.

There are two restroom facilities nearby in the park further to the west, one at the Alki Bathhouse and one at 63rd Ave. SW. There is also a restroom in Alki Playground, across Alki Ave. along 59th Ave. SW. Farther away to the east, there are two restrooms, one at the Don Armeni boat ramp and one at Seacrest Park.

In addition, we’ve set up two portable toilets at the site of the closed restroom and one portable outside the Alki Bathhouse. These were set up right after the restroom was closed. Because it’s a busy time of year at a popular park, we’ve increased the frequency of cleaning the portable toilets to once a day, seven days a week. Staff also monitor the portable and other restrooms daily to see if they need more toilet paper and paper towels. (A group that runs beach volleyball tournaments on weekends has set up its own portable toilet – paid by the group – which is open only on tournament days on Saturdays and Sundays.)

We plan to begin the project to repair the broken sewer line as soon as possible. Work will include excavating and repairing the sewer line in the street right of way, replacement of an ADA ramp, and renovation of the restroom.

Old Friend July 21, 2017 (10:02 am)

Come on Seattle Parks Department- “Pick up your game!” Seattle Residents voted to increase our taxes so you could better maintain facilities but time and time again we see incidents where the Maintenance/Capital projects team is not proactively doing a capital assessments of age and condition of structures and facilities so these items are not addressed until complete failure. Similar example – closure of South Play structure @ Lincoln Park due to unsafe conditions or deferred maintenance. Lets get it together or hire someone that can do the job.

miws July 21, 2017 (10:49 am)

Or, perhaps, it’s Seattle Public Utilities (and, perhaps SDOT, for the ADA ramp) that is responsible for the repair?

Mike

TJ July 21, 2017 (10:47 am)

Agreed. I would like to believe they have a in-house plumber that visits park facilities to inspect bathrooms. Hard to say what the money is going to. My biggest grievance is whatever happened to watering the grass at playfields? Riverview playfield is a prime example. The in ground sprinklers came on 30 years ago and the grass was green and plush. Now the field is bone dry and brown. Sprinkler heads are still there

Ben D July 21, 2017 (12:48 pm)

Wonder if the bathroom at Riverview will ever get fixed. If that’s any example, Alki will be fixed in a few years:)
- LisaS July 21, 2017 (8:02 pm)
  
  I was going to say the same thing! I’m sure Alki will be fixed well before Riverview cuz $$ talks.
  - WSB July 21, 2017 (8:29 pm)
    
    If you missed the Find It Fix It Walk and/or our coverage of it, Parks said that work would start this month. That is reiterated on the park’s webpage:
    
    https://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/riverview-playfield
    
    We’ll be checking on it Monday if crews are not in sight, as this is about as mid-July as you can get. (We’re also checking on the Lincoln Park play area.)

Gene July 21, 2017 (1:19 pm)

All great questions- should be asked when the City/ County has their hand out for more$$. I think most folks don’t mind paying for these things- but seems few ask for accountability anymore.

flimflam July 21, 2017 (8:48 pm)

don’t worry – the city is actively going after the people that built an UNSANCTIONED skate bowl at greenlake. that is where tax dollar are going.

it is ok to break a lock and start “camp sanctuary” or set up camp(s) under a bridge, in a park, but skateboarding? crime. send in the big guns.

Junction Lady July 23, 2017 (8:26 am)

The positive side of the situation is the renovation of this facility. The negative side is that a sewer line had to break in order to get a reactionary plan. Hopefully some thoughtful architectural details and a plan to maintain the daily cleanliness are included. Please hire staff to clean/stock/rid of sand throughout the day.

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