FOLLOWUP: Restroom report reviewed by City Council committee

By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Last night we told you about the City Auditor’s report on the state of Seattle park restrooms. This afternoon, that report was presented by the Auditor to the City Council’s Parks, Public Utilities, and Technology Committee, with response from Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR). The audit details the challenges of providing restrooms that are clean, safe, and open, while reacting to unprecedented levels of vandalism and low staffing levels.

“It’s not an easy thing to keep 129 park restrooms in good working order,” acknowledged Auditor David G Jones. Cleaning has been a challenge, but vandalism has really affected operations, closing restrooms regularly for repairs. “Some restrooms are getting hit harder and more often than others.” He noted that right now 20 restrooms account for 60% of the maintenance. Councilmember Maritza Rivera wondered why there’s been such an increase in vandalism, while Councilmember Robert Kettle asked if there might be ways to use design to deter damage.

Parks Superintendent AP Diaz acknowledged the toll of ongoing damage and arsons, and then offered up some of the ways that it could be reduced. Among other things, he said restroom attendants are now being considered. They would staff high-volume restrooms that are frequently damaged, like Cal Anderson. “We believe that might be a solution for these hotspot areas.”

As they look to replace one park restroom this year following arson, Diaz said Parks staff are looking at approaches like Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design that Councilmember Kettle mentioned when they design the replacement building. They’re looking at lighting, whether the building is obscured behind trees, etc. “Are there some aesthetic things we can do to improve it?” asked Diaz. He said that it’s essential to focus on design that will discourage vandalism, or “you’re just setting yourself up” for more. Parks is also looking to use more resilient and fire-resistant materials, along with stronger hardware.

(Mural by Juliana Kang Robinson, installed on Walt Hundley Playfield restroom building last September)

Councilmember Rivera mentioned a grant in 2023 that funded murals on 18 park restrooms, and asked if that had decreased tagging at those locations. Parks said it had made a noticeable difference. “That’s something we should grow,” agreed Diaz. “My dream would be to continue that.” But he also said SPR needs “help from the public by treating these places with respect.” Committee Chair Joy Hollingsworth concurred. “It’s on us and the community as well. It takes all of us, not just our parks department.”

Overall, Parks’ response to the audit and plans to improve operations did not draw any criticism from the Councilmembers, but the committee is expecting to receive a full update on progress from Seattle Parks and Recreation a year from now.

See the full briefing and discussion in the Seattle Channel meeting video here.

Sick and tired February 26, 2025 (8:52 pm)

If people are damaging restrooms repeatedly in specific areas, like at Cal Anderson, why not just close those problematic locations? That is the obvious solution.

K February 26, 2025 (9:29 pm)

Because other people need to use the bathroom? How is that not obvious?
- Sick and tired February 26, 2025 (9:34 pm)
  
  Tough luck if it can’t avoid being lit on fire and vandalized.
  - Nolan February 27, 2025 (1:54 am)
    
    I wonder if you’d feel differently about that sentiment if it were your housing being vandalized instead of public property.
  - K February 27, 2025 (3:29 am)
    
    So you want people to pee in the bushes? Stop using parks? Wear diapers when they want to play tennis? Tell all the kids parks are just for grown-ups who can hold it long enough to walk down the street to Starbucks? Every human alive uses the bathroom. “Tough luck” doesn’t change that. Your suggestion is weird. Do you just hate parks, or sincerely not understand what their purpose is?

Resident February 26, 2025 (9:27 pm)

Why waste funds on making it ‘pretty’ when inside there’s HUGE issues with keeping them sanitary. (See other WSB post). Lets put the fund there and those solutions! Seems like it’s putting a band-aid on a cut artery.

Kyle February 26, 2025 (9:51 pm)

Did anyone on the council actually read the auditors report? The cleanliness issues are much more basic than arson/vandalism. Less than half of all those bathrooms are kept open year round and we have more of a basic “clean it the same standard regularly and be accountable problem” than vandalism is rampant and that’s why the sink and toilet are filthy. I actually care very little if the outside of the restroom is tagged. Devoting that much air time about murals for vandalism misses the mark.

k February 27, 2025 (11:28 am)

It’s a campaign thing for Harrell. Don’t forget it’s an election year. Focusing on the tagging is in line with his self-congratulating over reducing “visible” homelessness (while not reducing actual homelessness). What something looks like is more important than “does it work” to an election.
KT February 27, 2025 (2:50 pm)

Exactly!

Marcus February 27, 2025 (6:11 am)

There was always some sort of minimal vandalism even decades ago. I really do not understand society these days and I do not blame rich versus poor. It is the mindset of people to would rather destroy than build. Like to destroy is more fun. Do not know the solution but appeasement for these individuals has not been the answer.

tim February 27, 2025 (7:11 am)

tear it all down and use porta potties. Damaged? Easy replace. Sadly, it’s obvious we can’t nice things anymore.

nice idea February 27, 2025 (7:32 am)

In Europe a lot of the big city parks have attendants at the restrooms, and people to walk around picking up bits of trash. I’ve always thought that was a good idea – it keeps things nice for everyone, and provides some good simple employment opportunities. I’d be happy if some of my tax dollars went to that. But in Seattle I’m sure they’d have to do some ridiculous multi-million feasibility study, and the budget would be blown.

Jeff February 27, 2025 (8:09 am)

The problem with the attendant idea is that in the end that person becomes tasked with enforcing rules, and I don’t have any confidence they get the actual backup they inevitably need on that. The instant they tell the wrong troublemaker to move along, they get thrown under the bus by city leadership. Roxhill Park bathroom is barely usable, owing almost exclusively to the criminal addicts that live in the park. Will the city take a stand on that issue, or will they make noises about how it’s “a complicated problem without easy solutions” and then nothing changes. What good is an attendant then?

Sillygoose February 27, 2025 (9:36 am)

After traveling Massachusetts extensively I was so impressed with the restroom facilities. Architecture represents the local area of each placement. A full-time attendant is in an adjoining building. These restrooms are spotless. I would highly recommend the City Council do some research. I contacted Peter Steinbruck a few years ago when his park was in planning stages with photos etc. As that park needs this type of facility due to high tourist lication. No response!!!

Harborislandworker February 27, 2025 (10:15 am)

I know I’ll probably get a lot unnecessary negative feedback for my comment… when it’s simply just an idea and obviously hasn’t been thought the whole way through yet. But has the parks department considered a pay per use alternative. I can’t imagine that anybody that would be willing to pay to use the bathroom would vandalize it somehow. And then use some of that money if not all to go back into the parks department. Yes, I know people shouldn’t have to pay to use a public restroom but what are the alternatives? I don’t know. It’s just a thought just an idea.

Josh February 27, 2025 (1:54 pm)

There are pay per use restrooms everywhere: Starbucks. This is a poorly thought out idea indeed. You should t have to pay to not void on yourself when you are at a free public park. Commodifying everything is a bad bad idea.
- Harborislandworker February 27, 2025 (3:24 pm)
  
  Josh… thanks for proving my point I hope you have a great day 🤷‍♂️

Dunno February 27, 2025 (5:50 pm)

Great idea. Attendants in the bathrooms! 24/7 for how much? How about attendants on our busses to make them safe again? What the hell is going on? I’ve found people living in a portapotty here in West Seattle and worse!

Sorry, comment time is over.