Village trustees have approved climate-controlled restrooms for summer events at Centennial Park West, ending years of complaints about portable toilets.
The trustees voted to spend more than $50,000 on trailer restrooms equipped with air conditioning, full lighting, and multiple stalls for men and women. Two trailers will have ADA-accessible ramps. The restrooms will remain at the park throughout the summer for concerts, the Fourth of July celebration, and other events.
“Women especially don’t like the porta-potties, and at night there are no lights in those porta-potties,” said Ray Piattoni, director of recreation and parks. “
We’ve tried pop-up lights but people steal them. So this just responds to the concerns that we experience out there.”
By committing to the trailers for the entire summer rather than renting them for individual events, the village achieves the same cost as short-term rentals. Traditional porta-potties rent for up to $100 each.
Trustee Cindy Nelson-Katsenes said the permanent Centennial Park West building should have included restrooms, but called the upgrade “a significant improvement for residents using the park.”