No place to go? City looks to improve washroom facilities in parks

Have you ever been in a Burnaby park and found there was just no place to do your business?

That could soon change, as the City of Burnaby is looking to improve and upgrade washroom facilities in parks around the city.

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According to a report discussed at Tuesday night’s Parks Recreation and Culture Commission Meeting, council made a general inquiry about improving washroom service in city parks in 2022.

Currently, washrooms (either temporary or permanent) are available in just 85 of 166 park locations across the city.

Only half of Burnaby’s parks have washroom facilities

Of these 85 washrooms, 38 sites have portable toilets, three have a precast vault system, and 44 have permanent washroom facilities, with some parks having more than one washroom due to their size.

It costs $3.5 million annually to operate temporary and permanent facilities in the city’s parks.

According to the report, most of Burnaby’s major and destination parks in the city have permanent washrooms, whereas neighbourhood parks do not. Portable toilets have been installed at parks where summer recreation programs are offered or where park use is high. However, they are only in place from May to October each year.

The report states that the use of new self-cleaning washrooms would also be worth exploring before the development of the full washroom replacement strategy, and staff plan to pilot a self-cleaning washroom sometime this year. These units have been developed by the industry in response to ongoing operating costs.

The self-cleaning facilities include self-contained toilets, which are automatically disinfected and cleaned after each use. The units are fitted with hand-washing sinks and garbage receptacles.

What will this cost?

The report includes typical annual costs for various washroom options. The costs don’t include sewer and water connections, grading, base preparations and trail connections.

Staff note that there will be a “significant cost” converting park facilities to permanent washrooms and an implementation plan will help determine what types of washrooms should be constructed in specific parks, what replacements should be prioritized, and the overall cost.

The cost projections will inform the city’s financial plan and staff will implement the planning in 2024.