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New 'saloon‑door' single‑occupancy restrooms and privacy walls aim to curb encampments and vandalism at city parks
Summary
Parks maintenance staff described new single‑occupancy restroom designs with partial‑height doors and privacy walls as measures to reduce homeless encampment inside restrooms, graffiti, and misuse. The commission received the maintenance report.
Parks maintenance staff updated commissioners on April 10 about facility changes intended to reduce misuse and maintenance burdens, including a new single‑occupancy restroom design with partial top/bottom gaps (the department described it as a “saloon door” concept) and privacy walls at problematic locations.
Glenn, senior facilities staff, told the commission the design allows restroom users privacy while discouraging people from sleeping or occupying the room for extended periods. “We are… putting that in to kinda help us discourage others from using it for other things besides using the restroom,” he said, noting the design keeps staffing and maintenance demands lower without permanently locking restrooms.
Staff said the approach was piloted at Hollydale Community Park with positive early results and that the city will convert several single‑occupancy restrooms at additional parks, including State Street Park and Cesar Chavez Park along Southern Avenue. Parks staff also reported hiring an additional maintenance worker and expanding community service worker program help during the summer to assist grounds maintenance.
The commission voted to receive and file the maintenance division annual report.
