Spring is here. Your nearest park restroom might not have reopened yet.

That’s a Google Maps image of the restroom building at the Whale Tail Park end of Alki Playground. Andrew emailed us about it, noting that it’s still “perpetually closed” despite usage in high gear with the arrival of spring, including youth baseball and soccer, pickleball, and other park/playground users. We checked the Seattle Parks map/dashboard tracking restroom status – which labels it a “seasonal closure.” Andrew says one side also has signage about vandalism, but a Parks spokesperson checked on that and reported back, “Just closed for winter. Will be reopened soon. Sounds like the winter closure sign may have gone missing and the vandalism sign was the one that the staffperson had on hand.” So take note that the spring reopenings of buildings closed for the winter aren’t complete yet; if you happen onto what instead seems to be a maintenance or damage problem at any Parks facilities, the number to call is 206-684-7250.

8 Replies to "Spring is here. Your nearest park restroom might not have reopened yet."

  • Stickerbush April 4, 2024 (1:29 pm)

    It has always peeved me that Parks closes restrooms seasonally. As if no one uses the parks in the winter.

  • Elizabeth April 4, 2024 (4:10 pm)

    Walt Huntley is closed too. 

  • Lola April 4, 2024 (4:18 pm)

    The millions alone just to build these only to have them closed.  

  • Kyle April 4, 2024 (7:51 pm)

    Highland Park still closed too. Got a similar response from Parks that this is normal and I’m the crazy one for wanting to pee with dignity at the public park. Like it isn’t April. Bathrooms were open by Mid March last year.

    • Derp April 4, 2024 (11:25 pm)

      Maybe because they turn the water off in these locations so the pipes don’t freeze up in the winter. It has been this way for years. 

    • Nichole April 5, 2024 (3:40 pm)

      Did they call you “crazy” or simply explain the reality of the situation? 

  • Mel April 5, 2024 (7:01 pm)

    Ridiculous to have baseball games going on with no bathroom anywhere nearby because it’s still closed. We had kids going in the woods last weekend at Lincoln park. There was also an egg hunt happening with no bathrooms for those kids.

  • W.sea April 7, 2024 (8:32 am)

    Even if they’re open, I don’t usually want my children to use them because they don’t get cleaned. The one at the West Seattle water ferry is so bad. It’s an embarrassment that a modern West Coast city with this much money has such hazardous bathrooms. I have seen the individuals that clean them and they don’t spend any effort to actually clean. Sad. 

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