Looking for a Seattle Parks restroom that’s not ‘closed until spring’?

That’s the newest Seattle Parks restroom building (aka “comfort station”) in West Seattle, and it’s also one that Parks plans to keep open through the winter. The department is wrapping up its fall/winter closure of most restroom buildings and drinking fountains, but published a citywide list of which outdoor-accessible restrooms it’s planning to keep open. Here’s the West Seattle list:

Alki Beach 63rd
Alki Beach 57th (shown above)
Alki Beach (Bathhouse)
Don Armeni Boat Ramp
Hiawatha
Lincoln Park (Beach)
Riverview Playfield
Seacrest Park

Parks currently has 129 restrooms around the city and says it’s hoping to have all in year-round use by the end of the next Park District funding cycle in 2028.

Flo B November 26, 2022 (4:51 pm)

The guy that normally cleans the restrooms on Alki was cleaning them Thanksgiving morning.

Mj November 26, 2022 (5:43 pm)

The restrooms at Hiawatha Park have been closed for a long time, there is a porta potty available.

newnative November 26, 2022 (6:21 pm)

Jack Block Park has very nice bathrooms but I did notice the water fountain was already turned off last week. It’s run by Port of Seattle, not Seattle Parks and Rec

onion November 26, 2022 (6:25 pm)

In locations such as Lincoln Park that have restrooms in multiple locations it would be really helpful if they posted signs by the closed bathrooms to direct walkers to the open bathrooms.

Kyle November 26, 2022 (8:29 pm)

It’s ridiculously sad that we close so many restrooms in Seattle Parks. Guess I’ll have to pee in the bushes if on a long walk. Did they say 2028?! Aren’t they getting the increased funding (which is also argue they don’t need for such a basic function) much sonner than that?

Margaret November 27, 2022 (10:31 am)

It is honestly ridiculous the amount of bathrooms available to the public. Almost all store bathrooms are for customers only or closed to the everyone. Where are people supposed to pee? Some people cant hold it until they find one and you get UTIs if you hold it for too long. Its gotten to a point where I need to carry a change of clothes with me just in case because I dont want to be walking around in wet pee pants if I cant find a bathroom.
Anne November 27, 2022 (11:33 am)

Parks are short staffed enough as it is-no reason to keep restrooms open that need to be constantly cleaned -just put extra porta potties out.
- Kyle November 27, 2022 (1:58 pm)
  
  I believe paying for porta potties to be serviced would cost more than just cleaning and opening the existing infrastructure. We keep paying more in taxes..where does it go if not to do something basic like open a restroom at a public park.

Bengal Sammy November 27, 2022 (6:30 am)

Weirdest headline contest is over. We have a winner.

Michele November 27, 2022 (8:24 am)

I agree Kyle that this is pretty ridiculous. I use Parks in the winter. On a dry day, I will go for a walk with a friend at Riverview. On a snowy day,’walk around with neighbors in various Parks.

anonyme November 27, 2022 (12:01 pm)

PUBLIC restrooms need to be available to the public all year round. I also agree with Kyle and others that there are too few public restrooms. This may be TMI, but there are lots of people with GI issues that make it impossible for them to “hold it” – no matter what “it” is. Such conditions could be (and are) considered disabilities, which makes bathroom access an ADA issue that goes beyond the structural.

morealex November 27, 2022 (9:18 pm)

This past week, or maybe previous week, I have seen the restrooms in Highland Park open in the evenings (when I walk the dog, after dark typically), but they do appear to be closed after a certain time if we’re out later. I didn’t see Highland Park on the listing above, so maybe they won’t be open much longer.

WSB November 27, 2022 (9:33 pm)

The Parks announcement said winter shutdowns should be completed by early December so yes, there is a chance that closure is ahead but they haven’t gotten to those yet.

WS resident November 28, 2022 (4:50 am)

The physical state of park bathrooms in this city is appalling. Where them tax dollars going?

FLiP November 28, 2022 (10:52 am)

RE: Lincoln Park comfort stations… Just checked with the Parks Crew Chief (SW District) and she said that there will actually be 2 open this winter. In addition to the SW Beach location, the comfort station that is located next to the playground, (across from the wading pool) will be open as well. She also added, “The only times these will be closed is if we get freezing weather, because the pipes will freeze and for the (SW Beach location), the path down to it is sometimes too icy to even get down to it safely.”

CheeseWS777 November 28, 2022 (9:29 pm)

On one hand, basic needs need to be available to the public with no exceptions. Then on the other hand, we have no solution to solve the problems of vandalism or people using the areas for needs that are destructive to the parks. If anybody has a cost effective answer for this problem, pls post the solution here

Kyle November 29, 2022 (12:35 pm)

I believe those problems are worse in the summer but we keep the bathrooms open then right? Parks made these cuts like two recessions ago and just never allocated the people/funding back.

Sorry, comment time is over.