Three Oak Park park district recreation centers will be getting long-awaited restroom renovations and enhancements that will make the facilities more user-friendly for patrons.
“It will address the concerns that we have, and mainly be able to give people access to the restrooms,” said Matthew L. Ellman, superintendent of recreation, of the plan voted into effect by park district commissioners Thursday night.
Restrooms in the Anderson, Field, and Carroll Centers are currently either difficult to locate or designated for limited use at certain times during the day. For instance, the general public is prohibited from sharing restroom facilities with children in preschool programs operated out of the recreation centers, and it can be difficult for parents and children using playgrounds outside of the buildings to locate existing indoor restrooms. The board agreed that the most favorable solution is to transform unused offices in these buildings into new restroom facilities.
“We want to maximize this space,” said Ellman. “The good news is we have a lot of room to work with.”
The board voted to hire Oak Park-based Garapolo/Maynard Architects to move forward with preliminary design plans, conceptual sketches for construction, and project recommendations. Ellman said he envisions the roughly two-month construction project launching sometime during the next holiday season. “We haven’t really begun to discuss what’s the best timing for this project,” he said.
As part of the construction project, the offices might be converted to restrooms accessible from the building’s exterior, complete with storage areas and work stations for facility staff. Existing restrooms could also be revamped, with upgraded lighting, faucets, and other amenities.
The scope of the project has increased since the park district set aside $75,000 in Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) funds several years ago. The total estimated project cost is upwards of $160,000. The project will use additional funds from a June 2010 board approved transfer of $309,999 of fund balances into the CIP fund, along with monies from last year’s tax levy.
Commissioner Lise Valentine said she believes the renovations are an excellent use of Oak Park tax dollars. “It’s really something our users have called for for years,” she said.
Commissioner Jessica Bullock said that as a mother of young children, she understands the importance of bathroom accessibility at the neighborhood centers. “It really fills a critical need,” she said.