Downtown park off-limits due to no bathroom

[KCMax]

I understand the rationale for this ordinance, but the city needs to stop being so damn rigid about things. A porta-potty would have destroyed the aesthetics? Really?

Restful park off limits without a restroom

It's an inviting downtown oasis, a half-acre of lush grass, benches and trees atop the new parking garage at 13th and Main streets where the Jones Store once stood.

Apparently for lack of a toilet, the new park has been off limits to the public all year and probably won't be open until next spring. That is, if the city and the Cordish Co. can get past another in a series of skirmishes that are beginning to make both look silly.

[ComandanteCero]

does Ilus Davis have a public restroom?  Does Case Park?  i've never been in a need for a restroom while around there so i haven't bothered looking, i don't think Washington Square has one....  I could be completely wrong on all counts.

[PumpkinStalker]

I can attest to seeing homeless use trees in all those parks you mentioned Commandante. This park has no trees wherein lies the problem.

[staubio]

Few parks have restrooms. I'm guess the concern here is having park patrons rushing the bathrooms at P&L establishments.

[LenexatoKCMO]

Few parks have restrooms. I'm guess the concern here is having park patrons rushing the bathrooms at P&L establishments.

Yeah - I have to think that part of this problem must be that it is not at street level - having a public space essentially in the middle of a not-so public building must raise some questions.

Of course if the stair tower is fine for the pool patrons to puke in than it ought to be plenty fine for folks to piss in as well.   

[elextendo]

I have seen in europe self-cleaning units?

[LenexatoKCMO]

I have seen in europe self-cleaning units?

SF has them too.  The price on one of those things probably exceeds the KC Parks Dept. total annual budget. 

[staubio]

SF has them too.  The price on one of those things probably exceeds the KC Parks Dept. total annual budget. 

Considering I've seen one in Detroit, I'm guessing we could find a way to afford one.

[KCMax]

Just looking on the net, it seems like they run for about $100k each. Seattle spent a million bucks apiece on there toilets though, and sold them on ebay for $89k after problems with prostitution and drug use in them.

[loftguy]

Considering I've seen one in Detroit, I'm guessing we could find a way to afford one.

KCMax, this is something else entirely.

Complete, commercial quality, self composting toilets retail for under $900.  This would seem to be an intuitive answer for a green roof.

You can make the enclosure whatever you want.  

Handwashing?  There are many more sanitary and cost effective solutions other than running traditional plumbing.


Where's the innovation and creativity guys?  Stop waiting for "the answer" and do something!!

[LenexatoKCMO]

Complete, commercial quality, self composting toilets retail for under $900.  

Yeah but does your self-composting toilet fold up into the wall and sanitize itself after Joe the Bum takes a sloppy beer shit all over the seat?  The swanky ones in SF and Seattle do. 

[ignatius]

Mill Creek Park, one of the most used parks in the City, has no restroom or portapotty.

[mlind]

SF has them too.  The price on one of those things probably exceeds the KC Parks Dept. total annual budget. 

I think that SF got them for free in exchange for allowing the company to put up 'European' style advertising kiosks.  You get x amount of minutes for a quarter before the cleaning mechanism come on.  Plenty of time for a fix.  Actually, I have never seen anyone use one.  I think they are a bit creepy.

Besides, how would you know it's spring without grass coming up, flowers blooming, and the smell of urine in the air?

[loftguy]

Besides, how would you know it's spring without grass coming up, flowers blooming, and the smell of urine in the air?

Har!

True urbanite, her.

[kigmee]

When is this park going to open?  I watched them build the bathroom over the winter and it looks complete - at least no more work has been done on it lately.  But I tried the stairs on the east side today and the door to the park level is locked.