Denver Parks and Recreation faces an ongoing problem keeping public restrooms open and available for use due to rampant vandalism and theft.
According to a department spokesman, 13 out of 30 sanitary toilets at sites managed by the park system have been closed due to vandalism or theft of plumbing and plumbing. To counter the closure of permanent restrooms, ADA-compliant portable restrooms have been deployed at many locations. These mobile toilets have also been victims of vandalism, with ten mobile toilets closed due to damage in the last month alone.
Two examples of vandalism that have occurred in recent months are the theft of all the copper tubing in the Ruby Hill Park toilet and the blasting of the Washington Park toilets four times in 16 months, most recently in the first week of July. Images provided by Denver Parks and Recreation of various damaged facilities also show graffiti on toilet walls, broken toilets, and what appear to be drug paraphernalia.
Photo: Denver Parks and Recreation.
“We’re trying our best to manage this, but it’s incredibly difficult to respond to the ongoing damage to our public facilities,” the spokesman for Denver Parks and Recreation said.
One tactic being implemented is to only open sanitary toilets from 9am to 2pm daily, as staff shortages prevent longer access.
The way vandalism restricts amenities at Denver’s parks in the form of restroom closures is a good reminder of how important it is for the public to report vandalism and suspicious activity to authorities in a timely manner.
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denvergazette.com
https://denvergazette.com/outtherecolorado/news/toilets-being-blown-up-plumbing-stolen-at-denver-parks/article_ac25c92c-2668-11ee-adba-039a58a2306b.html
