For immediate release: June 20, 2024
Contact: Parks & Recreation Director Tracy Willette
Telephone: 207-992-4497
Email: tracy.willette@bangormaine.gov
First of five public restrooms now installed in Bangor
BANGOR, Maine – Work crews installed two public restrooms on Thursday, June 20. Three others are scheduled to be in place by the end of summer.
One of the restrooms installed Thursday was placed in Cascade Park on State Street and the other was placed on Broad Street at the intersection with Washington Street. In the next couple of months, others will be added at Abbott Square on Harlow Street, the dog park at Essex Woods off Essex Street, and at Coe Park on Court Street.
The restrooms were added following many years of requests by residents and visitors alike who expressed that there weren’t enough public bathrooms in the City. The lack of such bathrooms also was cited as a priority in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The locations for the freestanding restrooms were chosen following three public forums and considerable feedback from residents.
They’re constructed with steel siding mounted on a concrete pad and have an opening at the bottom to allow for cleaning, ventilation and monitoring. Their locations are meant to balance ease of maintenance and ease of access. The structures can be relocated as needs or priorities change. One idea under review is to add an art element to the restrooms, which would increase their visibility.
Having available public bathrooms is more than just a convenience for people, it’s also a matter of public health. People can’t spend an extended amount of time using a downtown or City amenity without available restrooms.
As a starting point, each restroom will be serviced twice a week, and Parks & Recreation staff will monitor them between cleanings to ensure they’re in good order.
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The City of Bangor, Maine, is a service center community of 31,753 residents and is the county seat of Penobscot County. Bangor is the major commercial and cultural center for much of northern and eastern Maine. The City is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. For information on City projects and news, see www.bangormaine.gov.