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PUBLIC RESTROOMS IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS Public Restrooms in Neighborhood Parks Immediate concern – Desire of several users of Forest Run Park to have a public restroom due to the location of public outdoor basketball courts. Inventory – Currently, the City has 17 public restrooms located throughout the City. Of these, four are on Clearwater Beach, six service athletic facilities, three are in community parks and only four are located in neighborhood parks. Additionally, there are 14 outdoor basketball courts, four of which are located at community parks and 10 located at neighborhood parks. Of these, only four of the basketball courts are located in neighborhood parks where a restroom exists. Discussion – Public restrooms in non-staffed City facilities have shown to be problematic over time. Between vandalism, inappropriate activities and illegal activities, the City transitioned several years ago to providing open public restrooms at staffed public areas (i.e. E. C. Moore, Pier 60) and controlled access at all others. Controlled access is considered when an activity that is coordinated through the special event process may secure use of the restroom during their event or activity to provide control over the facility or a co-sponsored group is operating their program at the facility (i.e. Countryside Community Park, Sid Lickton). Historically, public restrooms in neighborhood parks (i.e. Del Oro, Marymont, Woodgate) were actually constructed to house recreation programs in the 60’s and early 70’s. They were only open when staff was present. These were actually the first after school programs that the City operated. As the City transitioned to the construction of larger recreation centers, resources were shifted and these facilities no longer were operated as they once were. This led to a void in control that then provided an opportunity for vandalism and inappropriate and illegal activities. This ultimately provided for the current policy of only being opened during controlled events. All current public restrooms in neighborhoods are locked during normal operating hours. As mentioned earlier, the City has 14 public basketball courts of which 10 are located within neighborhood parks. None have available restroom facilities due to the problems previously mentioned. In Clearwater, a neighborhood park is defined as a park that can be used and easily accessed by residents within a one-mile radius of the park, thus the need to use a public comfort station is easily achieved by returning home. This “formula” has worked well for some time so that we are not left dealing with many of the issues that the City and other jurisdictions deal with in respect to illegal and immoral activity that these facilities can attract. In addition, the cost to construct as well as maintain public restrooms at all of our neighborhood parks would be astronomical. Recommendation – Staff recommends that the City continues the current policy of not providing restrooms in neighborhood parks. This recommendation is based on past experience, experiences other communities have with public restrooms and the cost to provide and maintain these facilities at all neighborhood parks. In highly active areas (i.e. Clearwater Beach, Crest Lake Park) the City has received many complaints and police involvement. We can expect this would permeate into our neighborhood parks as well. With the intent of neighborhood parks being within one-mile of resident’s homes, the alternative of returning home is a far better solution than the introduction of inappropriate and illegal activity. Restrooms Basketball Courts ?? Belmont Clearwater Beach Rec. Center ? Cherry Harris Coachman Ridge ?? Clearwater Beach (4 includes Pier 60 and Countryside Community Park Mandalay Park ? Countryside Community Park Cypress Point Park ? Countryside Sports Complex Del Oro Crest Lake Park Forest Run ?? Del Oro Kings Highway (elem. school courts) ?? Ed Wright Martin Luther King Center (managed by AALC) ?? E. C. Moore Marymont ? Frank Tack Field Montclair ?? Marymont Morningside ? Phillip Jones Valencia ?? Sid Lickton Wood Valley (managed by Boys and Girls Club ? Woodgate Woodgate ?Opened only when user group is there due to vandalism. ?Open when a key deposit is provided for a special event. ?Restrooms available in center when open.